Thursday, August 4, 2011
I Need a Book Name
If you had written a book on police mental health issues what would you call it? The book is based largely in research findings, personal anecdotes from my work as a street cop and mental health professional treating cops. The 'usual suspects" of divorce, alcoholism, suicide, health problems & traumatic stress each have their own chapter. The literature for each affliction is reviewed and specific suggestions are made which will allow the officer to live a more full, complete life. So what's this book called. The best known similar book is Kevin Gilmartin's Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement, so I can't steal that. Looking for that super sexy title. Any suggestions?
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My background is counseling and my relatively minimal connection to law enforcement is strictly second-hand, so I don't have the right lingo, but perhaps this will give you some food for thought.
ReplyDeleteThe visual I associate with Gilmartin's "Emotional Survival" is of a guy who has fallen off a cliff face, broken both legs, has nothing to eat but bugs, berries, and the two pieces of gum that happen to be in his pocket, and no way of summoning help because he can't get a cell signal in the wilderness (assuming he thought to carry his phone). He will have to do his best to hang on until somebody notices he's missing and sends out a search party.
I think your "Emotional Kevlar for Cops" is catchy, but 1) you'd probably have copyright problems using a brand name and 2) body armor is a passive defense mechanism. From reading your blog (and I'm guessing the book has a similar tone), I have the distinct impression that you really want people to take a more active role in their self-care. Kevlar is good, but not good enough.
All of which leads me to the suggestion that you play off the idea of tactical "offensive" training intended to give law enforcement personnel the skills to prevent problems rather than merely respond to them once they arise. It's strategic, it's aggressive, and most of the time it works pretty well. I wish I had more elegant verbiage and proper terminology, but you can figure it out.
Mental Health for High Stress Jobs
ReplyDeleteMH 4 LE
LE, MH and a case of 9
Whiskey and Women: Other Options for Good Mental Health
What's For Dinner? How to stop yourself from eating your gun.
Mental First Aid
Are You Nuts? Buy this book and find out!
Lookit Me! I'm Not Nuts!
Hmm. Nothing original here, but I like Mad Jack's humor, and I love the assertive bent of Chris' adjectives.
ReplyDeleteOne flew over the Sergeant's Desk!
ReplyDelete