Understanding the Impact of PTSD on Canadian Police Officers and Their Families in Alberta

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can happen after someone experiences or sees a very scary or life-threatening event. It’s a serious issue that can really change someone’s life. The PTSD Association of Canada is a great place to learn more.

How Common is PTSD Among Police Officers?

PTSD is much more common among police officers than in other jobs. A study in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry showed that about 20-30% of Canadian police officers have PTSD. This research, called “Mental disorder symptoms among public safety personnel in Canada,” shows the higher risk for those in law enforcement. They studied many public safety workers, which shows how widespread the problem is across Canada. It’s important to know these are just estimates. The real number might be different, depending on how the information is collected and who takes part in the studies. More research is needed, but overall, it’s a big concern. First responders, like police officers, are at least twice as likely as other people to develop PTSD, according to the Canadian Public Health Association. This includes a look into PTSD and first responders in Alberta, and mental health support for Alberta police can be found here:

What Causes PTSD in Police Officers?

Police work means officers often face traumatic events. This includes seeing or being part of violence, seeing death or serious injuries, dealing with threats to their own lives, and constantly seeing people suffer. These kinds of events, which happen often in policing, can cause PTSD.

How is PTSD Diagnosed?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), from the American Psychiatric Association, gives the specific guidelines that mental health professionals use to diagnose PTSD. These guidelines make sure the diagnosis is correct and the same for everyone. The guidelines include:

Exposure: The person must have faced real or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. This could be experiencing it directly, seeing it happen, learning it happened to someone close, or being exposed repeatedly to very graphic details of traumatic events (which is common for police officers).
Intrusion Symptoms: The event keeps coming back in one or more of these ways:
- Upsetting memories that come back without warning.
- Bad dreams about the event.
- Feeling or acting like the event is happening again (flashbacks).
- Feeling very upset when something reminds them of the event.
- Strong physical reactions when something reminds them of the event.
Avoidance: The person tries hard to avoid memories, thoughts, feelings, or things that remind them of the event. This might mean avoiding people, places, activities, conversations, or objects.
Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood: This includes negative beliefs about themselves, others, or the world; blaming themselves or others wrongly; feeling negative emotions (like fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame); losing interest in things; feeling cut off from others; and not being able to feel positive emotions.
Changes in Arousal and Reactivity: This includes:
- Being irritable and having angry outbursts.
- Acting recklessly or self-destructively.
- Being overly alert (always on guard).
- Being easily startled.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Sleep problems.
Duration: These symptoms must last for more than a month.
Functional Impact: The symptoms must cause major problems in their social life, work, or other important areas. The person might have trouble at work, in their relationships, or with daily tasks.
Exclusion: The problems aren’t caused by drugs, alcohol, or another medical condition.

Acute Stress Disorder vs. PTSD

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is similar to PTSD, but the timing of the symptoms is different. ASD happens within one month of a traumatic event. The symptoms last for at least three days and up to one month. If symptoms last longer than a month, the diagnosis might change to PTSD. This difference is important because it helps decide the best treatment.

The Impact on Spouses/Partners

When a police officer has PTSD, it affects more than just that person. The officer’s spouse or partner often carries a heavy emotional and mental burden. This “secondary trauma” can change the relationship and family life.

Increased Stress

The partner of an officer with PTSD often feels stressed all the time. It’s not just now and then; it’s constant worry and anxiety. They’re dealing with the officer’s symptoms, changes in behavior, and the overall impact on family life. The partner might feel like they’re walking on eggshells, always waiting for the next outburst.

Emotional Distance

PTSD can make the officer become emotionally numb or distant. This is a way to cope with the overwhelming feelings from the trauma. But, it creates a big problem in the relationship. The partner may feel like they’re living with a stranger. This can cause loneliness, isolation, and resentment. Emotional shutdown in police officers is higher than average.

Communication Problems

PTSD seriously affects communication. The officer might find it hard to talk about their feelings or experiences. The partner might feel like they can’t bring up sensitive topics, fearing it will upset the officer. This lack of open communication creates a gap between the partners.

Financial Problems

The officer’s PTSD can also cause financial problems. If the officer can’t work because of their symptoms, or if they need expensive treatment, it can put a big strain on the family. This added stress can make existing problems worse and create new ones.

Impact on Family Dynamics

PTSD doesn’t just affect the couple; it changes the whole family. Parenting roles might change, with the partner taking on more. Social activities might be limited because of the officer’s symptoms or the partner’s fear of triggering them. There’s often more conflict and tension, affecting the children and creating an unstable home.

Mental Health Risks for the Partner

The constant stress and emotional burden increase the risk of the partner developing their own mental health problems. This can include depression, anxiety, and even substance abuse as a way to cope. The partner’s well-being is often overlooked, but it’s important to recognize the toll this takes on their mental health.

Feeling Isolated

Partners of police officers with PTSD often feel very alone. They might feel misunderstood by friends and family who don’t understand the challenges of police work or how serious PTSD is. This lack of support adds to the stress and emotional strain.

What a Partner Might Notice: Visible Signs of PTSD

PTSD shows up in many ways, affecting an officer’s emotions, behaviors, physical health, and relationships. Recognizing these signs is important for partners to understand what their loved one is going through and to get help.

Emotional Changes:

Irritability and Anger: Frequent anger outbursts, even over small things, are common. The officer might seem constantly on edge and easily angered.
Emotional Numbness: The officer may seem distant, withdrawn, and unresponsive. They might not be interested in things they used to enjoy and struggle to show affection or connect emotionally.
Guilt, Shame, and Hopelessness: The officer might feel guilty or ashamed about the event, even if they weren’t at fault. They may also feel hopeless about the future.
Anxiety and Fear: The officer may be very anxious, constantly fearful, and easily startled. They might be overly alert, always looking for threats.

Behavioral Changes:

Sleep Problems: Trouble sleeping (insomnia) and nightmares are common. The officer might also sleep too much to escape their thoughts and feelings.
Appetite Changes: Loss of appetite or overeating can happen, leading to weight changes.
Substance Abuse: Increased alcohol or drug use is a common way to cope. The officer might use substances to numb their feelings or escape the pain.
Social Withdrawal: The officer might isolate themselves from friends, family, and social activities.
Avoidance: The officer might avoid places, people, or activities that remind them of the trauma.
Reckless Behavior: Some officers with PTSD act recklessly, like speeding, gambling too much, or having risky sex.
Concentration Problems: Trouble concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things is common.

Physical Symptoms:

Constant Tiredness: Feeling tired all the time, even after enough sleep, is common.
Unexplained Pain: The officer might have unexplained pain, like muscle aches, joint pain, or back pain.
Headaches and Stomach Problems: Frequent headaches and stomach problems can be related to PTSD.
Heart Changes: Increased heart rate, fast breathing, and palpitations can happen, especially during anxiety or flashbacks.

Relationship Problems:

Conflict and Arguments: More arguments are common, often because of communication problems, irritability, and emotional distance.
Communication Breakdown: The officer might struggle to express their feelings or talk about their experiences.
Loss of Intimacy: Loss of interest in sex is common with PTSD.
Loss of Trust: The officer’s behavior changes and emotional distance can damage trust.
Feeling Distant: The partner might feel disconnected from the officer, like they’re living with a stranger.

A Real-Life Example

Imagine a police officer who saw a deadly car accident. After that, they start having nightmares about the crash. They pull away from their family and spend most of their time alone. They start drinking heavily to deal with the intrusive thoughts and images. Their partner notices they are constantly on edge, easily angered, and avoid driving. The partner feels more and more alone and worried. This leads to arguments and a growing distance. The partner feels overwhelmed and doesn’t know where to get help.

Burdened Partner Silhouette

Challenges and Support for Partners

Partners of police officers with PTSD face unique stressors and challenges that are often misunderstood by those outside of law enforcement.

Unique Burdens:

Constant Worry: Partners constantly worry about the officer’s safety, both at work and at home. This worry is worse because of the PTSD symptoms, which can make the officer’s behavior unpredictable.
Unpredictability: Dealing with unpredictable moods and behaviors is a big stressor. The partner may feel like they’re walking on eggshells.
Feeling Responsible: Partners often feel responsible for the officer’s well-being, even though they can’t handle PTSD alone. This can be overwhelming.
Household Management: Managing the house and family often falls on the partner, especially if the officer can’t work or participate fully.
Lack of Understanding: Friends, family, and others may not understand the challenges faced by partners of police officers with PTSD. This can lead to isolation and feeling judged.
Fear of Violence or Suicide: Partners may fear the officer’s PTSD could lead to violence or suicide.

Finding Support:

Peer Support: Connecting with other partners of police officers is very helpful. These networks provide a safe space to share experiences and offer support.
Counseling: Individual, couples, or family therapy can help. A therapist can provide coping strategies, improve communication, and help the family deal with PTSD.
Education: Learning about PTSD is important. This helps partners understand what their loved one is going through and find help. The PTSD Association of Canada https://www.ptsdassociation.com/ has great information.
Support Groups: Joining support groups specifically for partners of first responders provides a sense of community.
Respite Care: Taking breaks from caregiving is important to prevent burnout. This can involve asking family or friends for help, or using professional services.

Resources in Canada (and Alberta):

Canada offers resources to help those affected by PTSD, but access can vary.

PTSD Association of Canada: Provides information, resources, and support. https://www.ptsdassociation.com/
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): Offers mental health services and support across Canada. https://cmha.ca/
Badge of Life Canada: Supports Canadian police and corrections personnel with psychological injuries. https://badgeoflifecanada.org/
Wounded Warriors Canada: Provides mental health support for veterans and first responders. https://woundedwarriors.ca/
Alberta Health Services: Provides mental health and addiction services, including counseling and support groups.
Tema Conter Memorial Trust: Focuses on education, research, and training related to stress injuries and PTSD in public safety personnel. https://www.tema.ca/

Accessibility and Effectiveness:

While these resources exist, access can be hard, especially in rural areas of Alberta and other parts of Canada. Long wait times for mental health services are common. Also, the stigma around mental health in police culture can prevent officers and their families from seeking help. How well these resources work depends on individual needs, the severity of the PTSD, and willingness to engage in treatment.

Two hands coming together to help one another

Debates, Police Department Responsibilities, and Stigma

The issue of PTSD in police officers involves ongoing debates about prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Areas of Debate:

Screening and Diagnosis: There’s debate about the best ways to screen and diagnose PTSD in police officers. Some want regular screening, while others emphasize self-reporting.
Mandatory vs. Voluntary Check-ups: Whether mental health check-ups should be required or optional is debated. Those in favor say it ensures early detection, while others worry about privacy and stigma.
Treatment: The use of medication and therapy in trauma treatments for police officers is important to consider.
Privacy vs. Safety: Balancing the officer’s privacy with the need to protect their safety and others’ safety is a challenge.

Police Department Responsibilities:

Police departments have a big role in addressing PTSD. This goes beyond providing resources; it requires creating a culture that prioritizes mental health.

Education and Training: Providing education and training on mental health, PTSD, and stress management is important.
Peer Support Programs: These programs let officers connect with colleagues who understand and provide support.
Confidential Counseling Services: Easy access to confidential counseling, with therapists trained in trauma and PTSD, is crucial. This should include options for individual and family therapy.
Culture Change: Creating a culture that supports mental health and reduces stigma is key.
Policies and Procedures: Clear policies for officers with PTSD, including return-to-work plans and support for those needing time off, are important.

Barriers to Seeking Help:

Despite resources, barriers prevent officers and families from seeking help.

Stigma: The stigma around mental health is a major problem. Officers fear being seen as weak or unfit for duty. Details on overcoming PTSD stigma in the police force can be found here: https://respondersfirst.ca/ptsd-first-responders-alberta.
Confidentiality Concerns: Officers worry about the privacy of mental health services and the impact on their careers.
Lack of Trust: Some officers don’t trust the department’s support systems.
Time Constraints: The demanding nature of police work makes it hard to find time for appointments.
Financial Barriers: Concerns about the cost of treatment can be a deterrent.

The “Tough Guy” Culture:

The “tough guy” image in police culture is a big barrier. Officers are often told to suppress emotions and appear strong. This makes it hard to admit they’re struggling, leading to delays in treatment and worsening the impact of PTSD.

Cultural Sensitivity and Ethics

Addressing PTSD requires being sensitive to cultural differences and ethical considerations.

Cultural Considerations:

Diverse Beliefs: Different cultures have different views on mental health and trauma.
Communication Styles: Cultural differences in communication can affect how people express emotions and seek help.
Culturally Appropriate Resources: Providing resources that are sensitive to diverse communities is important.
Systemic Biases: Recognizing biases in the police force and mental health system is crucial.

Ethical Principles:

Confidentiality: Protecting the privacy of officers and families is very important.
Informed Consent: Officers must be fully informed about treatment options before making decisions.
Duty to Warn: Mental health professionals must warn if an officer is a threat to themselves or others.
Stigma Reduction: Working to eliminate stigma is an ethical duty.
Competence: Professionals working with police families must have the right training and expertise.
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: Therapists should avoid situations with conflicts of interest.

If you are the partner or spouse of a police officer in Alberta who is struggling with PTSD, or believe they may be, reach out to Responders First today. We offer resources and connections.

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.