Breaking the Barriers: Changing the Way We Support the Physical and Mental Health of Police Officers

Unacceptably high rates of stress anxiety sleeplessness and divorce have plagued the law enforcement profession for decades. Ask most police officers firefighters paramedics prison guards and anyone associated with police wellness and they will tell you everything is fine. Yet the rate of police suicide continues to climb because of the professions stigma against seeking help. Officers embrace their responsibility to preserve and protect by taking care of others ... but who is taking care of them? Through interviews with some of the most renowned professionals in their fields author and speaker Dr. Ron Rufo a highly decorated 22-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department puts a spotlight on the importance of seeking mental health intervention before a minor issue becomes a major crisis. In Breaking the Barrier Rufos fourth book and his second on police wellness he explains why emotional wellness is as essential as officers tactical training. He and dozens of supportive professionals-from the fields of psychology sleep medicine religion leadership management epidemiology and environmental health holistic medicine exercise physiology and alternative medicine-offer strategies to achieve and maintain emotional physical psychological and spiritual wellness throughout an officers career. Ron Rufo is on a crusade to rid the law enforcement profession of its constant and relentless shadow of despair. After describing the history of the police culture that contributes to todays physical and mental health issues he presents a cornucopia of tools for intervention and support to help all law enforcement officers achieve a work/life balance that will lead to a long healthy and well-deserved retirement.