For the month of May the show has been highlighting mental health awareness, the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness, and various ways to deal with these issues. For the final episode dedicated to mental health awareness a special guest was invited on to discuss Police Officer Mental Health. Just like every other person on this earth police officers can struggle with mental health issues and stigma whether it is their personal issues or a situation they encounter during the workday. The mental health of law enforcement officers has long been overlooked. Statistics continue to reinforce this fact, painting a grim picture of the current state of those who have sworn to protect and serve entire communities. While being a police officer can be a rewarding job, it can be mentally taxing as well. With every assignment comes the possibility of witnessing something that can be disturbing. Incidences of child abuse, suicide, domestic violence, officer-involved shootings, and more can be a regular part of the job. Over time, it takes a toll. A Rudy Family Foundation study found that police officers experience depression at a rate 5 times higher than the average person. That same year 140 officers committed suicide, compared to 129 officers who died in the line of duty. Being a police officer is an incredibly stressful profession. Officers see the worst that society has to offer and this reality often can hammer one’s mental health. Regular exposure to horrific scenes and heightened levels of stress can have a profound effect on a person’s mind, body and spirit. Yet despite the evidence to these factors, officers are still reluctant or unwilling to seek help, why? What can be done to remove the stigma associated with mental health in the law enforcement community?

Officer Justice Owens, Born in Greenville, AL, Officer Owens earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2018. In 2020, she began her career in law enforcement as a certified police officer in Mississippi. In 2022, she made a lateral transfer to Alabama. She is passionate about law enforcement because it provides her with the opportunity to interact with and educate people. She loves providing people with a different prospective of what a police officer can look like and how they can behave. Throughout her career, she has answered numerous calls and conducted numerous traffic stops. She has heard, seen and even smelled some unthinkable things which is what drives her passion for mental health awareness and ensuring that she is her best self.

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