National Minority Mental Health Month: Is It Time for a Screening?

Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is in July, and for police officers who are also minorities, it means not only screening for the health issues that are prevalent in your culture or ethnicity but also those that are common among law enforcement. In order to be at your best on the job and in your personal life, it is important to take advantage of the information being highlighted this month, especially if you are struggling with addiction and/or mental health issues related to the job, like PTSD.
Here’s what you need to know:
- About 27 percent of police officers are racial or ethnic minorities, according to 2013 statistics, up from 15 percent in 1987 and 25 percent in 2007.
- This statistic does not mirror that of the general population. That is, there are fewer minority police officers than there are minorities in the general population.
- Increased numbers of minority police officers have not generally been shown to help police/public relations or to diminish rates of violence against minority civilians, especially those who are unarmed.
- Many experts believe that the true issue underlying many of the incidents so hotly debated in the press in the past few years are not necessarily race issues but issues of untreated trauma and PTSD among police officers.
- Many police officers do not feel they have the freedom to ask for help with untreated mental health symptoms. Rather, they feel that they must “suck it up,” minimize what they are experiencing, and “self-medicate” with the use of alcohol and/or other substances. Minority law enforcement officers, often feeling that they are under increased pressure to maintain a certain standard in their job, sometimes find that it is even more difficult to ask for help.
- Regular screenings among police officers of all races can help to identify mental health symptoms that may indicate a substance use disorder and/or an untreated mental health disorder.
- Minority police officers are also encouraged to find out what screenings are recommended based on their cultural and ethnic backgrounds. For example, colorectal cancer occurs most commonly among African American and American Indian men and women, and Ashkenazi Jewish individuals experience high rates of breast, male breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
- Proper screenings can catch the early signs of potentially deadly diseases, including alcoholism and addiction. Health care is, as always and under all circumstances, protected by privacy laws, which means that if you feel you are struggling with a life-threatening disorder or that you may be at risk for any disease, you are free to get tested and keep the results to yourself as you determine how best to proceed with treatment.
If you are a minority and a police officer, and you are struggling with PTSD and/or a substance use disorder, it is imperative that you connect with a treatment program that has the expertise and resources to address your personal needs in recovery — a program like American Addiction Centers. Our highly rated first responder-focused treatment program offers a range of therapies designed to meet the needs of law enforcement. Therapies are:
- Offered by first responder-trained therapists and treatment team experts
- Designed to help police officers identify trauma symptoms, cope with symptoms, and limit symptom intensity
- Top-rated in the country
- Comprehensive in nature and designed to help law enforcement swiftly and efficiently get back to living life to the fullest
Contact us today to learn more about our uniquely designed treatment plans and how we can help you begin the healing process.
