Law Enforcement
Mindfulness Techniques Support Police Officer’s Well-being
“Mindfulness opens up the space in which we make decisions—we’re not so linearly focused or so stressed because we are under threat. We may still be under threat, but because I’m regulating my stress response and my emotions—anger, fear, and ego, which is a huge problem in our culture—I’m more aware of my options.”
Lt. Richard Georling, Hillsboro Police,
Founder of the Mindful Badge Initiative.
“I have received feedback from academy recruits, officers and supervisors, as well, that they continue to use the breathing techniques, in particular, when facing stressful situations. I see that as perhaps the most powerful new tool our mindfulness and yoga program has given them; the ability to mindfully regulate emotion and reduce stress at any given moment.”
Det. Chris Gibbons, Employee Assistance Unit
Cleveland Division of Police
Law Enforcement Agencies Adopting Mindfulness Techniques Nationwide
Chris Checkett, founder, at the Cleveland Mindfulness Center offers a Mindfulness and Yoga for Law Enforcement one-day training (5 hrs). This training has been designed using trauma-informed methodology. The Mindfulness and Yoga Training includes: an introduction to mindfulness techniques, physical yoga exercises and a deep relaxation practice. The main aims of the training are stress reduction and resiliency. Follow-up mindfulness and yoga classes are available to enable officers to continue to practice the techniques learned in the training. On-going practice helps officers to achieve maximum benefit from these techniques leading to stress reduction, and increased well-being. Contact Chris to discuss your interest in bringing this training to your agency.
Law enforcement officer’s lives are at risk for high blood pressure, insomnia, increased levels of destructive stress hormones, heart problems, shortened life expectancy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and suicide due to many pressures, including the threat of violence and exposure to trauma that they experience every day on the job.
According to the U.S Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, “Enduring stress for a long period of time can lead to anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a psychological condition marked by an inability to be intimate, inability to sleep, increased nightmares, increased feelings of guilt and reliving the event. For law enforcement officers, stress can increase fatigue to the point that decision-making is impaired and officers cannot properly protect themselves or citizens.”
-U.S Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs website