Summary
"As part of their sworn duty to the community, police officers are exposed to repeated stress and trauma. Historically, the impact of this responsibility on police officers has not been considered. In recent years there has been a growing understanding of the effects of long-term, repetitive stress and the psychological and physical toll that police officers often pay. There has been growing interest in finding ways to assist police officers in maintaining their health and wellness as they perform their duties. Most efforts have focused on assisting police officers after they are impacted by trauma, rather than giving them the ability to prevent or diminish trauma proactively through building personal resilience. This paper reviews the potential impact of stress on police officers, drawing from various disciplines. Based on this insight, the introduction of a reflective writing technique is suggested as suitable for the policing community as a tool for developing and maintaining personal resilience."--Page 2.