Peer support group launched in effort to help NKY officers with mental health struggles

ALEXANDRIA, Ky. (WXIX) - The Northern Kentucky Police Chiefs Association is starting a peer support group to help law enforcement officers through the stress and trauma that comes with the job.

The team will be made up of law enforcement officers trained in peer support, critical incident response and crisis intervention, in addition to a medical advisor who can refer an officer to medical care if needed.

"We recognize that police officers are tasked with dealing with difficult and challenging incidents that may have a negative impact on their personal wellness," said Alexandria Police Chief Lucas Cooper, who chairs the chiefs' association Health & Wellness Committee. "The support of a peer who has experienced similar difficulties can assist in providing guidance, recommendations and connection to resources."

The peer support team will provide services for:

Post traumatic incident

Trouble sleeping

Alcohol or drug dependency

Anxiety and depression

Life hardships

Feelings of loneliness

Other situations and conditions that require peer support

An , published by Walden University's Criminal Justice Department, lists five reasons why police officers' mental health should be prioritized:

Police officers report higher rates of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

More police officers die by suicide than in the line of duty.

Productivity is negatively affected by poor mental health.

Most law enforcement officers do not seek care for mental health issues.

Despite a lack of treatment, mental health challenges are prevalent among those with law enforcement jobs.

The law enforcement suicide rate has steadily decreased over the past five years after reaching a record of 255 deaths in 2019, according to Blue H.E.L.P. , an organization that compiles a list of first responder suicides and aims to decrease the stigma around mental health.

Despite the decrease in suicide reports, mental health is still a large issue within law enforcement as they experience more trauma than a regular citizen.

"The peer support team seeks to create a safe and welcoming environment for police officers to voice their struggles and gain a better understanding of how to work through them," said Chief Cooper in a press release.