Abstract
A self-directed online wellness program was developed to address the mental health needs of police officers. The results support the effectiveness of an OT-designed program to promote knowledge of mental health and increase coping skills.
Primary Author and Speaker: Autumn-Raine Martinez
Additional Authors and Speakers: Rae Ann Smith
Contributing Authors: Lindsey Warren
This capstone project explores strategies for building rapport between occupational therapists (OTs) and police officers to enhance mental health and well-being. The self-directed learning theory is central to the program’s design, emphasizing the importance of learners taking ownership of their educational journeys (Özüdoğru, 2022). Participants were encouraged to engage actively and explore resources independently, with intrinsic motivation playing a pivotal role in completing the program with minimal guidance. Building rapport is a crucial step in fostering trust and effective communication. OTs, as integral players in the process, play a pivotal role in understanding the unique challenges officers face, including the demanding nature of their work and the stigma around seeking help. By addressing topics such as mental health knowledge, burnout (Correia et al., 2023), sleep (Ho & Siu, 2018), and stress (Hofmann, 2021), OTs can connect more meaningfully with officers, making them feel valued and integral to the process. The project underscores the significance of a conversational approach to communication for rapport-building. Officers were provided access to an online mental health program featuring a website designed for self-paced learning. The program addressed vital topics such as burnout, sleep, and stress, with pre-and post-tests to assess knowledge. Data was collected using Survey Monkey and analyzed in Excel to evaluate the program’s effectiveness, ensuring the officers were engaged and involved. By the end of this session, participants will be able to identify and discuss two benefits of improving police officers’ mental health. This will expand OTs’ knowledge of officers, leading to a more positive impact on building rapport. Ultimately, the findings contribute valuable insights into occupational therapy and mental health and inspire further research and networking opportunities to strengthen the relationship between OTs and police officers.
Correia, I., Romão, Â., Almeida, A. E., & Ramos, S. (2023). Protecting police officers against burnout: Overcoming a fragmented research field. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 1–17. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/.1007/s11896-023-09584-4
Ho, E. C. M., & Siu, A. M. H. (2018). Occupational therapy practice in sleep management: A review of conceptual models and research evidence. Occupational Therapy International, 2018, 8637498. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8637498
Hofmann, L., Glaesmer, H., Przyrembel, M., & Wagner, B. (2021). An evaluation of a suicide prevention E-learning program for police officers (COPS): Improvement in knowledge and competence. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 770277. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.770277
Özüdoğru, F. (2022). Investigating the effect of differentiated instruction on academic achievement and self-directed learning readiness in an online teaching profession course. I.E.: Inquiry in Education, 14(2), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.32674/ie.v14i2.2820