BREAKING THE BLUE CODE1: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO MENTAL HEALTH IN POLICE OFFICERS

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1, 52 - 80, 12.07.2025

Nedim Havle , Sudiye Aksoy

Öz

This systematic review encompasses studies published between 2000 and 2024 that examine intervention methods aimed at safeguarding and enhancing the mental well-being of law enforcement personnel. Law enforcement officers are confronted with a multitude of risk factors, including elevated stress levels, exposure to distressing events, and organizational challenges, which are inherent to their profession. These factors contribute to the high prevalence of mental health concerns, such as burnout, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, among police officers. A comprehensive search strategy was employed, encompassing prominent databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and EBSCOhost, to identify studies that met the predetermined inclusion criteria and reported quantitative data.The findings of this study indicate that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapies (TF-CBT), organizational support programs, positive psychology interventions, and peer support programs have the potential to enhance the mental well-being of police officers. Specifically, mindfulness-based interventions were found to be effective in reducing stress and anxiety, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapies (TF-CBT) were found to alleviate PTSD symptoms, organizational support programs increased job satisfaction and commitment, and peer support programs reduced fear of stigma by providing social support. This review provides a framework for developing evidence-based and culturally sensitive intervention programs to protect and promote the mental health of police officers. It is recommended that police organizations implement such interventions, cultivate a supportive organizational culture, and reduce stigma towards police officers' mental health. Future studies should examine the long-term effects of different types of interventions and their effectiveness in different cultural contexts, such as Turkey.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Police Officers , Mental Health , Intervention Strategies , Posttraumatic Stress Disorder , Peer Support

Mavi Kodu Kırmak: Polis Memurlarında Ruh Sağlığına Yenilikçi Yaklaşımlar

Öz

Bu sistematik derleme, 2000-2024 yılları arasında yayınlanmış, polis memurlarının ruh sağlığını korumaya ve geliştirmeye yönelik müdahale yöntemlerini inceleyen çalışmaları kapsamaktadır. Polis memurları, mesleklerinin doğası gereği yüksek stres, travmatik olaylara maruz kalma ve örgütsel zorluklar gibi risk faktörleriyle karşı karşıyadır. Bu faktörler, polislerde tükenmişlik, TSSB, depresyon ve anksiyete gibi ruhsal sorunların yaygınlaşmasına neden olmaktadır. Bu çalışma, PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar ve EBSCOhost veri tabanları taranarak, belirtilen kriterlere uyan ve nicel veri raporlayan çalışmaları incelemiştir. Bulgular, farkındalık temelli müdahaleler (MBIs), travma odaklı bilişsel davranışçı terapiler (TF-CBT), örgütsel destek programları, pozitif psikoloji müdahaleleri ve akran destek programlarının polis memurlarının ruh sağlığı üzerinde olumlu etkileri olduğunu göstermektedir. Farkındalık temelli müdahaleler, stres ve anksiyeteyi azaltmada; TF-CBT, TSSB semptomlarını hafifletmede; örgütsel destek programları, iş tatmini ve bağlılığı artırmada; akran destek programları ise sosyal destek sağlayarak damgalanma korkusunu azaltmada etkili bulunmuştur. Bu derleme, polis memurlarının ruh sağlığını korumak ve geliştirmek amacıyla, kanıta dayalı ve kültürel olarak duyarlı müdahale programları geliştirmek için bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Polis teşkilatlarına, bu tür müdahaleleri uygulamaları, destekleyici bir örgüt kültürü oluşturmaları ve polis memurlarının ruh sağlığına yönelik damgalamayı azaltmaları önerilmektedir. Gelecekteki çalışmalar, farklı müdahale türlerinin uzun vadeli etkilerini ve Türkiye gibi farklı kültürel bağlamlardaki etkinliklerini incelemelidir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Polis Memurları , Ruh Sağlığı , Müdahale Yöntemleri , Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu , Akran Destek

Kaynakça

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