If you see yourself in these pages (the isolation, the anger, the quiet calculations) stop and speak to someone today. Pride kills more officers than bullets ever will.
 
Asking for help is not weakness. It is survival. It is courage.
 
🚨 If You Are in Immediate Danger
If you are in immediate crisis or thinking about harming yourself:
Call or text 988
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (United States)
Available 24/7
If you prefer text:
Text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)
Free, confidential crisis counseling by text available 24/7.
 
If you are in immediate danger: Call 911
 
You are not weak for making that call. Making that call is the ultimate act of courage. People are here to help. I know. They helped me!
Law Enforcement–Specific Resources
Badge of Life
National police suicide prevention organization
Peer support resources and therapist directory
www.badgeoflife.org
CopLine
1-800-COPLINE
1-800-267-5463
Available 24/7 for current and former law enforcement personnel and their families.
www.copline.org
This is cops talking to cops.
First Responder Support Network (FRSN)
Confidential resources and trauma programs
www.frsn.org
FBINAA Officer Safety & Wellness Section
Resources and materials on officer wellness
www.fbinaa.org
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF)
Critical Incident Stress Management resources
www.icisf.org
Local & Department-Level Peer Support
Every agency should have:
• A Peer Support Team
• Confidential referral pathways
• Access to culturally competent counselors
• Leadership openly endorsing mental health use
If your agency does not, advocate for it.
If you are a supervisor, build it.
If you are a command staff member, fund it.
Peer support is not optional anymore. It is survival infrastructure.
Finding a Counselor Who Understands First Responders
When looking for therapy, ask:
• Have you worked with law enforcement or military clients?
• Are you familiar with cumulative PTSI?
• Do you understand shift work stress and hypervigilance?
You deserve someone who understands the culture, not someone who needs it explained from scratch. We are a weird breed.
Warning Signs to Watch For (In Yourself or Others)
• Sudden isolation
• Increased alcohol use
• Irritability beyond baseline
• Sleep disruption
• Hopeless language
• Giving away possessions
• Talking about being a burden
• Reckless behavior
If you see it, say something. Not publicly. Not dramatically. Privately.
“Hey. I’m checking on you.”
That sentence saves lives.
Make Peer Support Part of your Culture.
Peer support is not a seminar. It is:
• Coffee before shift
• A text after a hard call
• Sitting quietly with someone who doesn’t want to talk
• Commanders admitting they’ve struggled
Culture shifts when leaders speak first.
FOP Mental Health & Wellness Resources
The National Fraternal Order of Police recognizes the need for qualified and competent services focused on the treatment of law enforcement officers and their families. The lifestyle and work of a police officer is unique and so are their needs. The Officer Wellness Committee has developed the Approved Provider Bulletin (APB), a nationwide directory of culturally competent wellness resources, all vetted by the NFOP. From individual clinicians to inpatient treatment programs to wellness products and training geared toward law enforcement, the APB provides a resource where officers and their families can locate and learn about available wellness services.
Practitioners, programs and products listed in the Approved Provider Bulletin have been deemed by the National FOP Officer Wellness Committee to be culturally competent in working with members of law enforcement and have demonstrated sensitivity and expertise in understanding the unique culture of law enforcement. Each has earned the designation of FOP Vetted & Approved Wellness Provider. Providers and programs are being added on an ongoing basis as we continue to vet resources to expand this network.
https://fop.net/officer-wellness/approved-provider-bulletin-apb/
The Division of Wellness Services follows a set of standardized guidelines while vetting wellness providers and programs for potential inclusion in the Approved Provider Bulletin. The FOP Wellness Provider Vetting Guide was created with guidance from police psychologists, combined with the knowledge and experience of the members of the National Officer Wellness Committee. It is designed to be utilized by lodges, police agencies, and members seeking wellness providers, and should serve as a tool for pinpointing quality wellness programs and services.
If additional information or assistance is needed, contact the NFOP Division of Wellness Services at officerwellness@fop.net or at (615) 878-2620.