Emotional Shutdown in RCMP Officers: A Guide for Partners and Spouses

This article explores emotional shutdown among Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers, focusing on what it is, why it happens, how it impacts families, and where to find support. It’s written specifically for those in Alberta who have a partner or spouse in the RCMP.

Understanding Emotional Shutdown

Emotional shutdown, sometimes called emotional numbing, is when someone has a hard time feeling or expressing their emotions. It’s often linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health challenges, as described in the Merck Manuals. People experiencing emotional shutdown in first responders might seem distant, lose interest in things they used to enjoy, struggle to feel happy, or just feel emotionally empty.

For RCMP officers, several things can trigger this:

• Trauma Exposure: Officers often see difficult things like death, violence, and serious accidents. This constant exposure can increase the risk of PTSD and, in turn, emotional shutdown.
• Operational Stress: The job has built-in pressures, like long hours and constant danger, leading to significant stress.
• Workplace Culture: Traditionally, police culture has valued toughness, often discouraging showing emotions. This can cause officers to bottle up their feelings, leading to emotional shutdown.

While “emotional shutdown” isn’t an official diagnosis, its symptoms are part of conditions like PTSD and depression. Professionals might use tools like the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) (PTSD.va.gov has more information) or the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) to assess officers. They may also use depression inventories to check for emotional numbing.

Prevalence and Contributing Factors in Alberta

Studies show that Canadian public safety personnel, including RCMP officers, experience mental health disorders more often than the general population. About 44.5% screened positive for at least one mental disorder, with emotional shutdown being a common symptom, as detailed in a study review at CAMH. Research specifically on PTSD in RCMP officers shows high rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, all of which can lead to emotional shutdown.

Several factors contribute to this:

• Job Stress: The nature of police work, with irregular shifts, long hours, and dangerous situations, creates major stress and can lead to burnout, increasing the risk of emotional shutdown.
• Critical Incidents: Dealing with traumatic events like car crashes, homicides, and suicides is a significant factor.
• Workplace Pressures: Feeling unsupported by the organization, along with paperwork and internal investigations, can increase stress.
• Existing Mental Health Conditions: Officers who already have mental health conditions might be more likely to experience emotional shutdown when facing job stress.
• Gender: The existing “masculine culture” deters many men from seeking treatment. A policy brief from the University of Calgary discusses these dynamics.

The Ripple Effect: Impact on Partners and Spouses

Emotional shutdown significantly impacts personal relationships. It makes open and honest communication difficult. An officer experiencing emotional shutdown might become distant, unresponsive, and unable to share their feelings or talk about their experiences with their partner. This creates challenges for maintaining closeness.

This unavailability affects both emotional and physical intimacy. The reduced emotional connection and lack of communication often lead to lower relationship satisfaction for both partners. Addressing communication problems in first responder relationships is vital for maintaining the partnership.

Partners and spouses’ mental health is also affected. They might experience increased stress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.

The entire family dynamic can be affected, impacting children and other family members. Partners and spouses may show signs of secondary traumatic stress or vicarious trauma and emotional numbing. This can happen from hearing about the officer’s traumatic experiences or from seeing the effects of trauma on their partner.

Strategies for Partners and Spouses: Coping and Support

If you’re the partner or spouse of an RCMP officer experiencing emotional shutdown, there are strategies you can use.

Individual Strategies:

• Self-Care: It’s crucial to prioritize activities that boost your well-being, like exercise, hobbies, or spending time with friends and family.
• Mindfulness and Relaxation: Practicing mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing can help manage stress and anxiety.
• Therapy: Individual therapy provides a safe space to process emotions, develop coping skills, and address any mental health concerns.

Strategies for the Couple:

• Communication Skills: Both partners should learn and use effective communication methods, like active listening and non-violent communication.
• Couples Therapy: A therapist specializing in couples counseling can help address relationship issues and improve communication and intimacy. Research at NCBI shows that couples therapy often improves relationship satisfaction.

External Support:

• Support Groups: Joining support groups for partners and spouses of first responders, or those with PTSD, can provide understanding and shared experiences.
• Peer Support: Connecting with other partners or spouses who understand the unique challenges of being with an RCMP officer can be incredibly helpful.
• Family Support Network: Friends and extended family may provide emotional support.

Support and Interventions: RCMP Resources

The RCMP offers support for its officers and their families.

• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): The RCMP provides EAPs, offering confidential counseling and support. However, stigma and concerns about confidentiality can sometimes prevent people from using them.
• Mental Health Resources: The RCMP has introduced mental health initiatives, including the Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) program, designed to reduce stigma and promote mental well-being.
• Family Support Initiatives: While some divisions may offer resources or events for families, a comprehensive, national program specifically for partners and spouses is lacking.
• RCMP Member Family Support Services: The RCMP provides some support, detailed on the RCMP website.

Areas for Improvement:

• Accessibility: Services need to be easily accessible and available when needed, especially in remote areas of Alberta.
• Confidentiality: Addressing concerns about confidentiality and the stigma of seeking help is essential.
• Spouse/Partner Programs: There’s a need for programs specifically designed for the unique needs of partners and spouses.
• Follow-Up: Long-term monitoring and support need improvement, as highlighted in a report by Our Commons.

Ongoing Discussions

There are ongoing discussions about emotional shutdown in the RCMP. A key debate is how much the RCMP’s culture contributes to emotional shutdown and how best to address it. Some people advocate for significant cultural change, while others believe in improving support within the existing structure.

Legal and Ethical Issues

Addressing emotional shutdown involves legal and ethical considerations.

• Privacy: Protecting the privacy of officers and their families when they access mental health services is vital.
• Confidentiality: Keeping information shared during therapy confidential is crucial.
• Duty of Care: The RCMP has a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy work environment, including addressing mental health. Balancing this with officers’ individual rights can be complex. If an officer’s emotional shutdown poses a risk, there may be legal obligations to report it.

Emotional shutdown among RCMP officers is a significant issue with widespread effects, impacting officers, their partners, spouses, and families. Addressing this requires a multi-faceted approach. This should include changing the workplace culture, providing accessible and confidential support, and offering specific help to partners and spouses. The challenges faced by RCMP officers in Alberta require tailored interventions and a commitment to improving mental health within the force.

If you are the partner or spouse of an RCMP officer experiencing emotional shutdown, exploring support groups, peer networks, and Alberta RCMP mental health support services is a helpful step. You can access more information at Responders First Remember, your well-being is important, and seeking professional support is a sign of strength. Contact Responders First today to learn more about how we can help.

Don Davis

15+ years of emergency response experience. Passionate about connecting our first responder communities with critical resources. Author of hundreds of articles and guides on First Responders mental health care. When not responding to emergencies, you can find me playing with my dogs, hiking, or enjoying a good book.