Exploring Barriers and Facilitators of Mental Health Treatment for Law Enforcement Officers: The Impact of Police Occupational Culture
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Prior research has explored the impact of police culture on mental health stigma among law enforcement, however, a deeper understanding about how different aspects of police culture may inhibit or facilitate mental health treatment utilization is needed to inform policy and practice. This dissertation explores the relationship between police culture and mental health using a qualitative research design. Twenty-five (n=25) law enforcement officers from a county sheriff’s office in Central Florida were interviewed and participant observations were conducted during a three-month period. The present study sought to address the following research questions: What are the experiences of the job and related mental health stressors of law enforcement officers? What are the general attitudes toward mental health and use of mental health services among law enforcement? What are barriers and facilitators to seeking mental health treatment among sworn law enforcement employees? What are officers’ perceptions of and experiences with the mental health resources available to them? What are the differences in attitudes toward seeking mental health services based on rank or years of service? Several themes were identified that provide insight into the influence of police culture on officer mental health. For instance, esprit de corps and identity were found to influence treatment seeking behaviors of law enforcement while mental health stigma, fear of others’ reactions, and fear of losing their jobs hindered treatment seeking. Conversely, mental health education and family support were found to facilitate treatment. This study contributes to the police culture research by examining how individual officers navigate mental health concerns in the context of an occupational culture that remains largely stigmatizing. Study findings are relevant for policy and practice and recommendations are made regarding strategies that can assist in reducing barriers, promoting facilitators, and creating policies and procedures to encourage treatment seeking among officers.
Author: Reed, April
Institution: University of Central Florida
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204616746