According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 90 percent of law enforcement officers identify stigma as a major barrier to seeking mental health support.1 This stigma, combined with the nature of law enforcement work, can make it difficult for officers to acknowledge and address their own trauma. Many officers receive training on stigma but may not pursue further education on the topic. However, by recognizing the impact of trauma on themselves, officers can develop a deeper understanding and greater empathy for individuals they encounter who may be experiencing mental health challenges or crisis situations. Training that strengthens this awareness can equip officers to respond more effectively and compassionately in the field. To provide support, the Oklahoma Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) team created a training that explores trauma in police work, adverse childhood experiences and trauma within the communities where the officers serve. By explaining how trauma influences behavior, cognitive processes and reactions, the OK ORS team indirectly addresses stigma. This training helps officers understand trauma-related behaviors and apply this knowledge to both their professional duties and personal safety. Officers who participate in the training report a better understanding of behaviors associated with substance use disorder (SUD) and other mental health issues and feel more equipped to protect themselves from trauma-related outcomes. Incorporating typical law enforcement scenarios and local crime statistics into the training has helped gain officer buy-in as well as create a space for open dialogue. Officers and law enforcement leaders who attended the training reported applying trauma-informed techniques on the job. Officers also noted that the training provided helpful tools and guidance related to use of officer tone, methods to ask more effective questions during investigations and how to support colleagues experiencing burnout or trauma. These insights have positively influenced officers’ attitudes and policing strategies, highlighting the role of trauma awareness to indirectly reduce stigma.

Feedback from evaluations has been predominantly positive, with many suggesting that this training be included in the law enforcement academy in Oklahoma. The OK ORS team has received follow-up calls from jurisdictions that have implemented some of the ORS team’s recommendations for officer support sharing their positive experiences in applying trauma-informed training techniques in their work. Some of these recommendations include skills to recognize trauma, applying discretion to reduce harm and finding creative yet lawful solutions. One officer in Oklahoma, who participated in a training session, worked with the local water department to restore service to a home, preventing a mother from losing custody of her children due to a lack of running water. This action not only kept the family together, but also strengthened the relationship between law enforcement and the community member, who now regularly contacts law enforcement about neighborhood concerns. The OK ORS team is developing a ‘Train the Trainer’ course and evaluation process. It is expected to be completed in 2025 to help other regions adapt and deliver more localized training to different levels of law enforcement.  

1 Mental Health First Aid USA. (2023, August 14). Dismantling Mental Health Stigma in Public Safety. Mental Health First Aid. https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2023/08/dismantling-mental-health-stigma-in-public-safety/