CJ 720 Trauma & Crisis Intervention Blog

Law Enforcement and Mental Health

A quick google search for “law enforcement mental health” returns two different types of results.  The first is training for officers to recognize, understand and respond to people suffering or dealing with mental health issues.  The other results are websites, programs and services available to law enforcement administrators and officers to ensure mental wellness and stability.  In the final report that came from President Obama’s Task Force on 21^st Century Policing, both the training of officers and caring for officers are emphasized in the six main topic areas or "pillars."  For officers to adequately and appropriately provide services to the public, they must first be healthy and adequately trained.

Pillar Five titled "Training & Education" emphasizes proper training of officers suggesting “mandatory Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), which equips officers to deal with individuals in crisis or living with mental disabilities, as part of both basic recruit and in-service officer training.”  Also recommended is leadership development programs that encompass a wide variety of areas to include mental health issues. The report suggests that “line officers are more likely to adopt procedures or change practices if they are advised to do so by managers who also model the behavior they encourage.” (Final Report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 2015)

Pillar Six addresses issues related to "Officer Wellness and Safety" and calls out the current law enforcement culture and suggests “the most important factor to consider when discussing wellness and safety is the culture of law enforcement, which needs to be transformed.” (Final Report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 2015)  Transformation is needed to overturn the tradition of suffering in silence and encouraging officers to seek help.

For an agency to make the mental wellness of their officers a priority, the focus and discussion has to start with the top leaders and make its way all the way down to the lowest ranking officer.

• Policy:Administrators must implement policy to encourage officer to seek necessary help and assure them there will be no negative consequences.  Leaders cannot be afraid to approach the subject and should do so from the perspective of helping the officers as opposed to punishing the officers.  Additionally, focus should be placed on total wellness not just the officers’ physical and mental wellbeing, but the wellbeing of their family members.  Resources for leaders and administrators can be found on the IACP Mental Wellness website, such as model policies, a vicarious trauma toolkit for leaders, as well as information for family and financial wellness.   (Mental Wellness, n.d.)
• Discuss:To change the culture, the formal and informal leaders of the agency must engage officers in frank, open discussions about the issue of mental wellness.  The more it is discussed, the less taboo it will become.  PoliceOne.com says that " Making the conversation about mental health normal and routine goes a long way toward erasing stigma." (Olson & Wasilewski, n.d.)
• Train:Mandating trauma-informed training for law enforcement, at both recruit and in-service can work twofold.  This type of training will enhance the officer’s interaction with the public, but it can also show officers how trauma could potentially affect them.  Delivered properly and with the appropriate amount of emphasis, interaction and time, this training can start conversations among officers and make the subject less taboo.
• Provide:If an agency has mandatory physical fitness tests or medical evaluations, consideration should be given to implementing access to mental health check-ups for officers.  The Task Force Report stresses that current practice is to provide reactionary counseling, only after an incident occurs.  Preventative counseling is critical “Because officers are exposed to a wide range of stressors on a continuous basis as part of their daily routines, mental and physical health check-ups should be conducted on an ongoing basis.” (Final Report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 2015) While some question “mandatory” counseling and its benefits, there is no question that counseling for law enforcement officers has value.  Agencies must provide access to employee assistance programs (EAP), peer counselors and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams.  These services, coupled with trained and informed supervisors and appropriate agency policy, can encourage and facilitate officers’ access to professional help. 

(2015). Final Report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Office of Community Orriented Policing Services. Retrieved from https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/taskforce/taskforce_finalreport.pdf

Mental Wellness. (n.d.). Retrieved from IACP.org: http://www.theiacp.org/COSW-Mental-Health

Olson, A., & Wasilewski, M. (n.d.). Suffering in silence: Mental health and stigma in policing. Retrieved from PoliceOne.com: https://www.policeone.com/police-products/human-resources/articles/218917006-Suffering-in-silence-Mental-health-and-stigma-in-policing/

The Correctional Bubble: Inmates, Correction Officers, and the inevitable problems.

We have often discussed in our class topics and discussion about those suffering from PTSD. We know how difficult it is for those who are suffering from PTSD to receive help and the right treatments to help them get through their difficult times. When we think about the countless Americans that suffer from some sort of traumatic experience and even PTSD, we see that the numbers are staggering. According to the Sidran Institute An estimated 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives and up to 20 percent of these people go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD (Sidran, PTSD Fact Sheet. 2017). Some more statistics that can be shown include approximately 8 percent of all adults, 1 of 13 people in this country, will develop PTSD during their lifetime. Lastly, we see that an estimated 1 out of 10 women will get PTSD at some time in their lives. Women are about twice as likely as men to develop PTSD. (Sidran, PTSD Fact Sheet. 2017) After learning about some of the statistics that come with PTSD, we can obviously see the dangers that come with PTSD or even experiencing some aspect of trauma. If it goes untreated, it could lead to some serious problems. PTSD can also lead to extreme trauma, which like the other stated above will have terrible outcomes socially, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically. I bring this up not only because we have discussed and debated PTSD within our class, I also bring it up because I have experienced what PTSD can do to a person first hand.

While growing up, my first cousin was incarcerated for a little over 10 years. One can tell from his current actions that being in jail changed him for the worst. His actions, demeanor, and all his traits have changed. When I asked him, what was wrong with him now, he basically explained to me that he had witnessed and been involved in things that would freak the normal person out. As we spoke, he told recollections of times where inmates had been severely beaten up, inmates stabbed to death in front of him, spending weeks at a time in solitary confinement, and so many other horrendous things. He explained to me that experiencing these things have made him a different person. He claimed 10 years of always looking over your shoulder, getting into fights with guards and inmates, as well of the fact that families tend to lose touch with inmates after a certain period of time has passed. This can have a devastating toll on the inmate both mentally and emotionally. He also had troubles at first readjusting to freedom essentially. He spent 10 years with someone controlling his every move. Telling him what time to wake up, when to eat, when to shower, and all other things that people should have personal control over. One of the points of this post is to show the lack of resources that have been put out to those who need it. When a person has experienced trauma and may have even developed some type of PTSD, they are in desperate need of help. This was evident with my cousin who suffered from flashbacks, would have emotional outbursts and attack his family both physically and with words. He would always react if someone was walking behind him and at times rarely slept because he didn’t want to experience any recollections of his time in prison.

We have seen as a country that in most areas we lack resources to help not only veterans but inmates and former inmates as well. A 2018 poll showed us that within three years of release, about two-thirds (67.8 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Within five years of release, about three-quarters (76.6 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested (Recidivism rates. National Institute of Justice. 2018). These staggering number are not just because companies and jobs refuse to hire offenders, it is also due to the fact that inmates who get out end of developing some sort of PTSD or the lingering effects of traumatic experiences. While researching about inmates with PTSD, I stumbled upon some information that was actually shocking to me. Along with inmates like my cousin, prison employees develop signs of PTSD as similar rates as war veterans. According to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine “Prison work is harrowing, researchers said, and employees face some of the “toughest working conditions of U.S. workers,” lead author Lois James said in a statement. Staff surveyed constantly feared for their safety at work, and almost half of them witnessed a co-worker’s beating at an inmate’s hands. Female and black employees were more likely to suffer from PTSD as a result of their work, as were staffers of more than 10 years. Results were consistent for workers in all areas of the prison, including minimum and maximum-security areas (American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2016). To know that 35% of inmates as well as 10% of correctional officers contemplate suicide. These numbers are very alarming and definitely needs intervention. We see what causes traumatic feelings and PTSD, there is another group that also experiences this, that most people would think of.
With everything being said, one of the  main purposes of this post is to show that the correctional network is responsible for developing traumatic feeling and PTSD for people within their bubble at an alarming rate. People involved in this line of work develop these issues during work, which is ridiculous to me. We also see how inmates are extremely likely to develop instances of PTSD and other traumatic feelings. How can one of the branches of justice be so potent in the development of these things and there is little to no action being taken place to combat it? In my opinion, prison systems should be used for inmates to repay their dues to society after breaking the law. It also should be a place where ideas and help is given to those involved. This help will allow those to know the error of their ways, in order for them not to place themselves in similar situations. To wrap up this blog post, I think immediate action should be taken place with regards to helping people in prisons, and those who help maintain it. It is difficult to think that people who go in with hopes of rehabilitation as well as paying their dues, as well as those seeking good job opportunities, and both groups end up with serious problems. Before researching these problems as well as taking time to spend time with my cousin, I didn’t think this was the case at all. It’s a serious problem that must be dealt with.

References:

National Institute of Justice. Recidivism Rates. Office of Justice Programs. 810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531. 2017

Sidran Institute. Traumatic Stress Education and Advocacy. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Fact Sheet. 2018

Scottie Andrew. Newsweek. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. PRISON EMPLOYEES FACE SAME RATES OF PTSD AS WAR VETERANS, NEW RESEARCH CLAIMS. 2017

No Tolerance Act and Immigration

During the semester one of our classmates brought up the topic of the No Tolerance Act at the border and further stated that the separation of families was allowing thousands of children to go through traumatic events when being separated from family members. I decided that for my blog I was going to investigate more on the issue of immigration and family inflicted trauma because when I was young my family also migrated to the United States as so did my older brother and I. The journey was not as complicated as the stories that have been reported but none the less did require that we be separated from my parents for span of three years.

Now in our textbook, “The Body Keeps Score,” Van Der Kolk states that when children become frighten or go through a traumatic event their first reaction is to seek protection and comfort from a trusted adult. If the child is denied access to said adult recovery from the even could be prolonged and cause further damage (Van Der Kolk, B. M.D. (2014).). When the Trump administration started separating children from their parents there were reports that many of the children were found multiple nights crying out for their parents. In the article titled “Family separation under ‘zero-tolerance’ policy could leave lasting trauma in children, pediatric doctor says,” Dr. Colleen Kraft who visited the children being held in detention centers stated that the majority of the children were being impacted by toxic stressors, the longer the child was exposed to these stressors the bigger the impact it had on the continual development of the child. Although it was reported that children were reunited  with their families after the No Tolerance Act was lifted the damage done by the toxic stressors remain so much that there were reports that some of the children that were reunited felt anger toward their parents due to the fact that their minds associated the separation with abandonment.

Now why is this an important topic to address? Because even though it is important to protect the United States from potential terrorist attacks and criminals there has to be a humane process that both officers and the country have to follow to ensure that innocent children don’t pay the price. I understand that some will say “well this is a situation that the parents have chosen to put their children through,” and I respect those with their opinion however as well learned when studying trauma and the holocaust we really cannot judge the actions of others as we do not know the situation that brought them to break the law and take their children with them. The only side that we know is the one that has been reported to us by the Government and the media and surely the information given through them only paints one side of the picture the side that is missing is that of those that have chosen to cross the border and risk their lives.

Now I would be lying if I told you I knew the solution to fixing the immigration system because I don’t. Honestly, to this day I still remember what one of my government teachers said to me when I criticized how political parties kept passing the issue back and forth and that is that one can’t truly fix a broken system. What is broken is broken the only solution would be getting rid of the current system and building a new one however that would only put others hopes and dreams on hold and others in complete desperation as some are currently in therefore a bullet proof solution would be hard to create.

Reference

Family separation under 'zero-tolerance' policy could leave lasting trauma in children, pediatric doctor

says. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-06-19/family-separation-under-

zero-tolerance-policy-could-leave-lasting-trauma-children

Van Der Kolk, B. M.D. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score. Brain, Mind, and Body In the Healing of

Trauma. New York, NY. Penguin Books.

Family Solution: Services Needed

When one hears the term PTSD the first thought is a person suffering from mental health.But one thing people fail to realize is that PTSD affects more people than just the individual it also affects the family. Voluntary treatment is most often provided to those who are actually suffering from PTSD but family members are frequently left neglected. PTSD can impose the feelings of being scared, frustrated, and angry due to witnessing change among a loved one. A wife may wonder if life will ever go back to the way it once was. Trauma impacts the individual, his or her relationship with family and friends, his or her ability to hold jobs, and the way he or she interact with the world around him or her (Rousseau, 2018). To roster growth after trauma from those suffering, a strong family network is required. How does PTSD impact a family and influences the healing process?

The symptoms of PTSD contribute to a stressful and dysfunctional family environment which decreases familial support in the healing process and delays the return of positive interpersonal behavior (Ray & Vanstone, 2009). The effects of PTSD on a family can cause a wide variety of reactions such as anger, depression, sympathy, failing health, and isolation. The contributing effects are feeling sympathy for a loved one, being emotionally drained, ignoring one’s own health, and becoming just as isolated as a loved one to avoid criticism and shame. Ray & Vanstone found that emotional numbing can negatively impact family relationships and cause further emotional withdrawal forming a struggle with healing from trauma (Ray & Vanstone, 2009). There is no playbook in regards to knowing how to deal with PTSD and often times each family member deals with it on his or her own but a more effective solution is to get help as a family unit.

People are unlikely to recover from PTSD on their own and require a network. Why wouldn't treatment for a family be provided when PTSD is such a highly regarded diagnosis that is much more common in today’s world? Therapy, cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, stress inoculation training, and medication are some of the most common forms of treatment for PTSD suffers. These types of treatments are not provided to family members. As mental health programs often come with a high price tag, one solution I impose is for insurance companies to start assisting with the cost. Insurance companies shall recognize that individuals can suffer from the impacts of PTSD and trauma simply by caregiving and/or associating with individuals suffering from trauma. More specifically diagnosed individuals shall have mandated intergraded programs upon diagnosis to include couple and family therapy. Martial support improves depression, symptoms of anger, and relationship development. Family members need to learn to cope with PTSD just as much as the individual themselves. This is just as important for the process of recovery. PTSD is a very difficult situation that causes marital issues, behavior problems in children, and increased amount of distress among the house hold. I suggest a 40 hour family training program to teach methods of relaxation, yoga, effective communication, and learning to impose positive activities which can possibly make a significant impact on the recovery process. Re-qualification for this training shall be conducted once a year by qualified individuals as long as a traumatized family member is receiving treatment.

One of the current limitations to PTSD treatment programs is that the majority of programs are voluntary. If someone truly believes their is nothing wrong with them issues are not addressed and anger can become part of their character. I suggest a mandated family program to decrease the possibility of PTSD going untreated. If left untreated, PTSD symptoms do not go away and make it far more difficult over time. Individuals suffering from trauma can have substance abuse problems such as alcohol and drugs, anger management issues, isolations, depression and suicidal thoughts or acts. My suggested program would allow family members to initiate and start treatment to formulate an understanding of PTSD. Research has shown that intervention programs are successful and help create a positive effect in the long run. “It is recommended that treatment for PTSD include support of the family and interpersonal skills training for military personnel suffering while healing from trauma” (Ray & Vanstone, 2009).

References

Rousseau, Danielle (2018). Trauma and Crisis Intervention MET CJ 720A:  Module 1 & module 4 [Study Guide].

“PTSD: National Center for PTSD.” Negative Coping and PTSD - PTSD: National Center for PTSD, 1 Jan. 2007, www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/therapy-med/va-ptsd-treatment-programs.asp.

“The Effects of Trauma Do Not Have to Last a Lifetime.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/research/action/ptsd.aspx.

Ray, Susan L., and Meredith Vanstone. “The Impact of PTSD on Veterans' Family Relationships: An Interpretative Phenomenological Inquiry.” Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, Elsevier, 7 Feb. 2009, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748909000066.

Veterans Treatment Courts: Healing the Wounds

Shortly after the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, with Authorization for Use of Military Force allowing the President to use "all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks," operations began with U.S. military forces deployed to Afghanistan on October 6, 2001 (Torreon, 2017). Approximately two million service members were deployed. As veterans return home from deployment, they struggle to readjust to civilian life especially if they have been exposed to combat. Studies indicate that an estimated 20% of veterans from recent wars report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, major depression, or traumatic brain injury (Canada & Albright, 2014). There is also a growing concern for veterans who are involved in the criminal justice system. Veterans, particularly combat veterans, may be coming into contact with the criminal justice system because of their unmet mental health needs (Canada & Albright, 2014).

An increase in veterans in contact with the criminal justice system led to the emergence of veterans treatment courts (VTC). VTCs were established to identify the root causes of veterans' criminal behavior, and help them reintegrate back into society. The VTC team generally consists of the judge, attorneys, and Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA treatment and service providers. They determine and provide appropriate treatment for veterans. For example, if a veteran enters the criminal justice system, his or her case may be transferred to the VTC. If transferred, the VTC team evaluates the veteran and the case to determine eligibility, and if the veteran and the case are eligible, the VTC offers the veteran participation. If the veteran accepts the offer, he or she is expected to participate in and receive certain treatments and services, as well as comply with specific court mandates, in lieu of incarceration (Baldwin & Rukus, 2015). If the veteran does not accept the offer, the case is transferred back to the traditional court of origin. VTCs are based on the mental health and drug treatment court models "designed on the theoretical underpinnings of therapeutic jurisprudence" (Canada & Albright, 2014).

There are a multitude of benefits associated with VTCs. In addition to significantly lower recidivism rates for participants who complete them, VTCs also save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars that would have otherwise been spent on incarceration (Henderson & Stewart, 2012).There are benefits to the communities in which the veterans reside. Reducing the effects of criminal behaviors improves overall community well-being. Veterans are also generally satisfied with their experience in VTC. They appreciate that the judge and mostly everyone there were veterans, how they gained a support system, or how the VTC addressed their personal issues in addition to their legal issues (Baldwin & Rukus, 2015). In fact, as a VTC judge handles numerous veterans' cases and is supported by a VTC team, he or she is in a much better position to effectively respond than a judge who only occasionally hears a case involving veteran defendant. A VTC judge better understands the issues that a veteran may be struggling with, such as substance addiction, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, etc, and is more familiar with veterans service organizations (Justice for Vets, 2018). In addition to that, military ritualism employed in many of these courts makes the program more relatable.

Getting help is undoubtedly the most important part of the process. The VA and the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) officers work together to provide counseling services, job placement services, and housing (Getz, 2018). As a representative from the VA is included in the VTC team, veterans can immediately register for services and receive necessary treatments. VTCs also provide mentors who can be active or retired military. Mentoring programs are often selected with input from the judge, court coordinator, and mentor coordinator. Mentors support veterans in securing housing, employment, job training, education, and transportation, and help veterans and their families navigate the VA, Social Services, and other systems (Henderson & Stewart, 2012). Veterans' relationship with their mentors throughout the program increases the likelihood of veterans successfully completing the program. The Veterans Treatment Courts: 2015 Survey Results found that VTCs are in fact providing veterans with access to much-needed services and that more than 80% of the courts indicated that they were able to match participants with mentors who could provide assistance both in and out of the courtroom (Getz, 2018).

There are a number of features that need to be strengthened within the VTC. VTCs are not not universally available and therefore only a portion of military veterans are eligible for these specialized programs (Canada & Albright, 2014). Eligibility for VTCs varies by jurisdiction. For example, a recent inventory of 461 operational VTCs across the U.S. found that 66% of courts will accept veterans with either misdemeanor or felony charges, but the remaining courts restrict participation to misdemeanor only (20%) or felony only (14%) (Tsai et al., 2018). Such restriction prevents veterans who need treatment from receiving it. Some also criticize that VTCs fail to include victims and heavily focus on offenders and legal and military communities only. As the role of the victim is minimal, some view VTCs as a get out of jail free card. An element of coercion is present as well (Baldwin & Rukus, 2015). Because veterans will be transferred back to the traditional court of origin and possibly be incarcerated, some might feel pressured and forced to accept the program. However, the force exerted by the criminal justice system on the offender to complete treatment does not appear to hinder the positive impact of the treatment (Baldwin & Rukus, 2015). Overall, studies do show that VTCs keep our veterans out of prison and provide necessary services and treatments. Expanding eligibility and actively involving victims will multiply such effects and help ensure that everyone benefits from VTCs.

References

Baldwin, J. M., & Rukus, J. (2015). Healing the Wounds: An Examination of Veterans Treatment Courts in the Context of Restorative Justice. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 26(2), 183-207.

Canada, K. E., & Albright, D. L. (2014). Veterans in the Criminal Justice System and the Role of Social Work. Journal of Forensic Social Work, 4, 48-62. 

Getz, L. (2018). Veterans Treatment Courts - Helping Vets Seek Justice. Social Work Today, 17(5), 22.

Henderson, K., & Stewart, K. (2012). Veterans Treatment Courts. American University. Retrieved from https://www.american.edu/spa/jpo/initiatives/drug-court/upload/VTC-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Justice for Vets. (2018). What is a Veterans Treatment Court? Retrieved from https://justiceforvets.org/what-is-a-veterans-treatment-court/

Tsai, J., Finlay, A., Flatley, B., Kasprow, W. J., & Clark, S. (2018). A National Study of Veterans Treatment Court Participants: Who Benefits and Who Recidivates. Adm Policy Ment Health, 45(2), 236-244.

Torreon, B. S. (2017, October 11). U.S. Periods of War and Dates of Recent Conflicts. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS21405.pdf

How lifelong exposure to trauma impacts careers in law enforcement.

Many times in media we are quick to identify a shooting, whether it was of an officer or an individual with/without a weapon. The media has pushed this concept that police officers abuse power based on what stories have made headlines etc. Interestingly enough, it appears that we are wrong in judgment of another individual's career, especially if we have never endured what they have in order to be where they are today.

What I am referring to is exposure to trauma at either a young age, or throughout the course of their childhood. Law enforcement in itself has a daunting resume of various trauma which can be faced in an individual's tenure. It is however, how one deals with those traumas which allows them to either be successful or tarnish their career. In my research paper I discussed how an individual who grew up in a supportive household, typically would have an ability to have post-traumatic growth as opposed to their counterpart. The reason being is they are supported, both physically and mentally, but have also strengthened their identity of self and can understand the traumas they have faced. It is those who have endured trauma, and potentially pushed away their feelings or issues, who seem to suffer in the long run.

Throughout the course of this class, I was able to understand that help in the forms of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and various forms of self-care can help an individual perform at their highest level. Unfortunately, we live in a society where there is a negative stereotype surrounding mental health, and it is that same stereotype which hinders the growth of those who have suffered, or are suffering. If the stigmas are erased, people do not feel judged, and people do not feel judged, they will be more comfortable to get the help they need.

Suicide within the Law Enforcement Community- Jacob Fregia

In a recent conversation I had with a local Sheriff’s Deputy, he stated the following,  “The shootouts aren’t what get you, or even the perpetrators who attempt to resist arrest. It’s constantly dealing with people who find themselves in the worst possible situation, which in turn brings out the worst in people.  That’s what gets you.” Our topic of conversation was that of trauma, within our local police departments; and what induces it. The colleague I mention above is a younger deputy, in his early 30’s, who has been in the force for a little less than ten years.  He has a wife, and a young child. He is a good officer, with a solid reputation across the county. Though it should not be a surprise that he is now battling anxiety, and depression. As he stated above, it’s not the violent encounters he’s had that bothers him, but rather the constant day to day grind of dealing with people who are at their very worst moments.   

Depression, anxiety, and suicide are all plagues that are spreading across our country's precincts on a biblical magnitude.  In 2017, 46 officers were gunned down while on duty. In that same year, one-hundred forty police officers took their own life.  I repeat, in the year 2017 three times as many officers took their lives, compared to those who lost theirs while in the line of duty.  Though the implications as to why this epidemic is occurring is still unknown there are certain steps that need to be taken as a means to combat this issue.  

First of all, this issue should be publicized and discussed with feverence and consistency.  The first step to solving a problem, is recognizing that there is a problem at hand. Furthermore, the implementation of licensed healthcare professionals within our law enforcement departments should be of the utmost priority.  If we expect for mental health to become a forefront topic within our communities, then the necessary resources should be allocated as a means to help combat these problems. Rather than allowing these issues to maintain taboo, bringing them to the forefront of conversation will allow for positive growth and change.  

PTSD Then and Now

“PTSD Then and Now”

By: Stephen Blais

Module 3 contained some of the most interesting topic of our studies throughout this course, in my opinion. While reading the material which included symptoms and effects that trauma has on our brain, it immediately brought to mind the biographical war movie "American Sniper," which depicts the life and death of war hero Chris Kyle. There is a scene in the film where Kyle is sitting in a chair in his living room. Kyle is watching a blank screen while the film the depicts scenes from the war during one of his previous tours of duty. There seems to be some type of cookout or birthday party taking place at Kyle‘s house however his mind is clearly elsewhere and he is unable to focus on  -  or enjoy the celebration going on around him.  The horrors of the war were preventing him from enjoying what should have been a joyous occasion.  It seems to me that Kyle was experiencing dissociation and reliving.

According to our text, "If elements of the trauma are replayed again and again, the accompanying stress hormones engrave those memories ever more deeply in the mind.  Ordinary day to day events becomes less compelling, not being able to deeply take in what is going on around them makes it impossible to feel fully alive.  It becomes harder to feel the joys and aggravations of ordinary life...Not being fully alive in the present keeps them more firmly imprisoned in the past" (Van Der Kolk, p. 67, 2015).  For some reason this particular calm scene always stood out to me in an otherwise action-packed movie.

Growing up, I had a close relationship with both of my biological grandfathers who served in World War II. One served as an anti-aircraft gunner and interpreter under the direct command of General Douglas MacArthur. The other served as a turret gunner, who ended up getting shot down in the Pacific, but thankfully survived. The lessons of this class as it relates to trauma kept bringing me back to the countless discussions and stories which both of them told me of their service. Soldiers who are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are gone for anywhere from about six months to one year per tour. Soldiers such as my grandparents were deployed for over three straight years! I can only imagine the troubles with PTSD that they must have faced when they returned home from the war. It also makes you wonder which is worse, the constant redeployment of troops that our military faces today, where soldiers serve multiple tours or being deployed for years at a time.

An interesting concept in to the difference between PTSD in World War II soldiers and that of current day soldiers in the finality associated with World War II. According to Andrew Pomerantz, the chief psychiatrist of the VA in Virginia in his discussion about the aftermath of World War II, “Society didn’t want to hear it. You don’t want to hear that your hero who has just come back from winning the war is troubled by what he did over there and the people he bombed, the people he shot. People didn’t want to hear that kind of thing. All anybody wanted to hear at the time was: Isn’t this wonderful? We won. We’ve saved the world. Thank you.” Soldiers during WWII surely suffered from PTSD, but some may have been more able to rationalize their acts of war, because we were attacked and we won the war. Today’s soldiers are fighting a war that has no end in sight, and often times they cannot differentiate from friend or foe in the battlefield.

References:

Pomerantz, A. (n.d.). Soldier's Heart. Retrieved August 13, 2018, from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heart/themes/shellshock.html

Van Der Kolk, B.,2015.The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books New York.

Reentry Awareness Month in Philadelphia

As I’m sure I’ve made pretty obvious, the topic of returning citizens has been and continues to be a passion of mine. It’s a group of traumatized individuals that are just now beginning to receive nationwide attention, but continues to be a controversial topic. I plan on writing my final paper on the topic on this very subject. They are a group that is complex in not only its needs from the community, but are not complete victims in their struggle, as other trauma survivors are such as survivors of sexual assault. I believe that because of their history of offenses, it creates a difficulty from our community to humanize them and their traumatic experiences in places that some would argue “they deserved to be in.”

This, along with the amount of trauma experienced in prison is astounding. The moment one enters prison, several assessments of both mental health and criminal history are made along with strip and cavity searches. While in prison, violent assault, including sexual assault committed by both inmates and officers, dehumanization of inmates and utter loss of free choice is the reality of inmates. Institutionalization is the more specialized term used for inmates becoming accustomed to prison and in many ways becoming accustomed to the trauma that prison entails.

During my research for my final paper, however, I found an interesting article of a reentry month that is celebrated in Philadelphia. This Reentry Awareness Month is celebrated in June and is a new resolution for the city. The article that showcases Philadelphia’s resolution also attaches an article for trauma-informed events around the city. These events are geared not only towards the 25,000 returning citizens in the city, but to loved ones and community members that would benefit in learning about returning citizens and their plight in returning to the community and dealing with their trauma. If you wish you read more about this, here’s the link: https://generocity.org/philly/2018/05/29/reentry-awareness-month-18-events-coalition/

The manifestation of childhood trauma

In module two we explored the different types of childhood trauma’s and how these trauma’s can follow a person into adulthood causing adverse health effects. A child’s brain development can be affected by traumatic events, whether these events happen directly to the child or if the child is just a witness to a traumatic situation These effects to the brain development may have lifelong costs. For example, studies have shown that the more adverse childhood experiences a child has, the higher the chance of health problems in adulthood. Children who’ve experienced trauma may be at risk for health problems such as, asthma, depression, heart disease, strokes, etc. Further, these people may have a higher risk of suicide than those who didn’t experience any abuse as a child.

Studies have found a link between childhood abuse and mental health issues in adulthood. How the child becomes psychologically affected can depend on a variety of factors. These factors can range from, the severity of the trauma, if it is long term or short term, the type of trauma, the relationship to the abuser, etc. Each of these factors may either decrease or increase the psychological impact that the trauma has on the child. Children who’ve experience trauma, such as child abuse, may have an increased likelihood of developing several psychological conditions (e.g. bi polar disorder, PTSD, depression etc.).  (Morin, 2018)

Instead of seeking help, children and adults may suppress their emotions and bottle up how they are feeling or try to forget the trauma completely. A child with a history of trauma, may be the kid in school who has “behavioral issues”, who displays anger, and aggression for unknown reasons. As kids become adults, the trauma doesn’t just disappear, it is often buried subconsciously. We’ve also learned in our readings that adults may have only fragmented memories of trauma that may appear when they are triggered. Even if an adult did suffer traumatic events in their childhood and had gone years without receiving help, it is never too late to start healing old wounds. However, the sooner the therapy begins, the sooner the healing starts. There is no easy cure, and trauma can’t be healed with a dose of medication. Although medication can help people control their symptoms, trauma is complex to treat, and several interventions together are often more helpful and successful, such as active therapy/counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and/or medications or other alternatives (e.g. service dog) at once. (Dube,2018) Studies have taught us that adverse childhood experiences are more common in people than we would like to imagine. The effects of trauma may not subside on their own, and may pose a significant threat to a person’s life without them even knowing. When this trauma remains unhealed it may then affect the next generation, creating a cycle that is hard to stop. (Dube, 2018)

Dube, S. Rn (2018). The steps that can help adults heal from childhood trauma. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/the-steps-that-can-help-adults-heal-from-childhood-trauma-77152

Morin, A., Forman, J., & LCSW. (n.d.). The Effects of Childhood Trauma. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-effects-of-childhood-trauma-4147640