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The Lethbridge Police Service has joined forces with Wounded Warriors Canada to introduce the Down Regulation Skills Training program, a pioneering initiative aimed at supporting police officers who frequently encounter traumatic situations during their duties.
While law enforcement personnel often receive guidance on managing trauma both pre-incident and post-incident, a critical gap has been identified concerning how to effectively cope during the occurrence of traumatic events.
The Down Regulation Skills Training program is designed to mitigate trauma-related injuries by equipping officers with essential coping strategies for dealing with trauma while on the job, as well as facilitating their recovery afterward.
At the core of this training initiative is the BETR model, which stands for Body, Emotions, Thoughts, and Relationships. This framework encourages officers to engage in self-reflection, allowing them to de-escalate their body’s stress reactions amidst high-pressure situations.
This program is set to be implemented across the entire service, ensuring that all officers are trained in these techniques, fostering not just the safety of the community but also promoting the well-being of the officers themselves.
The frequency of trauma exposure is starkly different between the general public and police officers; while most civilians confront at least one significant traumatic event in their lifetime, law enforcement officials can experience between three to five such incidents every six months.
For further insights on this vital program, a video is available in the player above that elaborates on its objectives and expected outcomes.
Source
globalnews.ca