What are the methods of job stress management and reduction available to police officers?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

There are different ways to manage and reduce stress without leaving police work. The "fixes" for stress come in two general categories. Stress management now encompasses a variety of programs and procedures that include discussing stressful events with colleagues and mental health professionals, regular exercise, relaxation techniques such as structured visualization, a healthy diet that also eliminates caffeine and nicotine, enriched family support, religious support, prayer, meditation, and stress management classes that often involve spouses. Organizational change can also reduce the potential for stress in the police work environment. Officers, for example, may be given more discretion in determining their work hours and shifts as long as the police agency is able to respond effectively to the workload requirements of the community. Flattening the organizational structure can help reduce stress by giving officers more discretion in carrying out the responsibilities of their job. Community policing is an effective paradigm for increasing officers' ability to control their work and perhaps minimize stress. Job redesign can assist in assigning the right number and type of tasks to a police position when one job requires too much of an officer to maintain emotional stability and good health. Finally, excellent public safety equipment can minimize stress. Proper police weaponry, dependable vehicles, and the best of protective equipment such as high-grade body armor not only can protect officers but can also put their minds a little more at ease on those important concerns.