Physical and Mental Health Coping Strategies to Improve Officer Wellness
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Training Description
Learning how to effectively manage and cope with stress is critical for law enforcement and corrections officers. High levels of stress, if left unresolved, can adversely affect our physical and emotional wellbeing. When we feel stressed, we often resort to negative coping strategies that are counterproductive and tend to exacerbate—not improve—the stress in our lives often leading to burnout and complacency. To compound matters, the prevalence of suicide in our profession is double that of the general population. Discussions pertaining to stress and suicide within our profession are often lacking or deficient because we, as public safety officers, are not expected to appear emotionally vulnerable or fragile.
This 1.5 hour webinar will address the negative influences contributing to stress, burnout, and suicide in our profession; introduces and discusses the many benefits associated with emotional intelligence, which contributes to a healthy state of mind; and discusses the importance of diet, exercise, and other positive coping strategies to improve our emotional and physical wellbeing.
Trainer Biography
Dr. Michael Pittaro is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice with American Military University and an adjunct professor of criminal justice with East Stroudsburg University. Before pursuing a career in higher education, Dr. Pittaro worked in corrections administration; has served as the Executive Director of an outpatient drug and alcohol facility; and as Executive Director of a crime prevention agency. He has been teaching for the past 17 years while also serving internationally as an author, editor, trainer, and subject matter expert. Dr. Pittaro holds a BS in Criminal Justice (Who’s Who Among University Students – 1989); an MPA in Public Administration; and a PhD in criminal justice. He resides in Nazareth, Pennsylvania with his two sons (Dakota and Darrian).
Learning Objectives
This training is designed to help you:
- Identify the signs and understand the causes of stress, including thoughts of suicide
- Describe the importance of Emotional Intelligence in minimizing stress
- Develop healthy physical and mental coping strategies to minimize stress and burnout
