The City of Mentor was recently awarded $26,400.00 for the continuation of the Mentor Police Department Wellness Program which address the mental and physical wellbeing of officers.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become mainstream to the military lexicon, but it is commonly forgotten when considering the traumatic events faced by law enforcement. Studies have linked PTSD to physical morbidity in the form of hypertension, musculoskeletal pain, obesity, cardiovascular disease, panic attacks, phobias, mania, substance abuse, and increased risk of suicide. An impermeable stigma around mental health and wellness has kept thousands of law enforcement officers from receiving preventative and rehabilitative care.
The program was first implemented as a pilot project using grant funds from the Department of Justice under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office.
Phase I of this program helped MPD to establish partnerships with the Energetic Foundation and Crossroads Health, along with certifying five officers as peer supporters and one as a personal trainer. An important goal of Phase I was to begin building mental and physical health infrastructure within MPD to ensure sustainability, while reinforcing the cultural shift MPD leaders are striving to achieve.
Phase II will allow MPD to further educate its newly certified peer supporters and personal trainer, while offering comprehensive physical and mental wellness training and support. It is anticipated that Phase II will give the program more autonomy in its goal to have a robust, cost-effective, in-house wellness program.
Program activities include working one-on-one with a Tactical Strength and Conditioning Specialist, monthly group exercise sessions, educational sessions on pertinent wellness topics, such as nutrition, sleep habits, and stress management. In addition, anonymous counseling services and educational seminars are available to participating officers.
Officers will also have access to a wellness application that can be downloaded on their mobile devices to provide customized nutrition, exercise routines, mental health education, and wellness videos that are available at their fingertips.
The original grant request was in the amount of $49,300.00.