May marks both National Police Week and Mental Health Awareness Month, two distinct but interconnected areas of focus for those of us working with survivors.
Police play a critical role in the multidisciplinary approach to victim services. A survivor’s first interaction with the criminal justice system has the potential to set them on the path toward healing or do significant, lasting harm. Throughout Connecticut, law enforcement officers strive to consistently learn, grow, and continuously improve their response to survivors of sexual violence.
It’s crucial to recognize that while we are well-versed in the value of self-care for the survivors we work with, it’s just as important for us as practitioners to prioritize self-care as a fundamental part of the job. Vicarious trauma is real, and if we’re not taking care of our own mental health, we’re not fully prepared to do our job serving survivors.
Connecticut agencies & officers: thank you for your service, and take care of yourself!
If you’d like to talk about trainings and practices you can put into place today to improve officer wellness and best serve survivors, please reach out to the Alliance’s Law Enforcement Services: kristin@endsexualviolencect.org