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Police officers are trained to spot trouble before it escalates. When the warning signs show up in their own lives, recognizing them can be much harder.
In this episode of First Response, Bob Plaschke talks with Dr. Kat Aguilera, a UK-based counseling psychologist who works with police officers, military veterans, and first responders. They compare the pressures facing officers in the United States and Britain, including a problem that doesn't stop at the border: people who need help often fear what asking for it could mean for their careers.
Aguilera argues that departments should not wait for someone to reach a crisis before taking mental health seriously. She shares what cumulative stress can look like, how leaders and colleagues might recognize trouble earlier, and why families often notice changes before anyone at work does.
The conversation also explores a different approach to trauma treatment. Can intensive therapy help an officer get meaningful care without months of weekly appointments? Aguilera has firsthand experience delivering it and explains what those sessions involve.
This episode asks a question every police leader should consider: are we making it easier for officers to get help, or simply expecting them to keep going, shift after shift?
Listen to the full episode of First Response here:
