A glance at the physical and mental health of police officers

Abstract

The foremost purpose of the study was to assess the physical and mental health of police officers. Officers who are physically fit are more confident about their ability to handle a job, make better decisions about which level of force is appropriate to a situation, and it helps them relax and suffer less stress. Our nation’s law enforcement officers have one of the toughest jobs in the nation. Every day, they risk their lives to keep the peace and protect our neighborhoods from criminals. Due to the stressful nature of their occupations, law enforcement officers need better access to mental health services to improve their health and help alleviate the anxiety that is a byproduct of their jobs. Police work is stressful, dangerous, and often stigmatized. Daily, any officer might come face to face with the worst humankind has to offer. They must make split second decisions between life and death while margins for error are slim and unforgiving.