mResilience

08/21/2024

Need a quick reset? Here's a proven strategy from the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (LEB) spelling out a step-by-step strategy to quickly "reset" after a difficult encounter. Not only do these strategies help you quickly adapt and be ready for a new call, they also have been scientifically proven to burn up unnecessary and harmful stress hormones that can hurt your physical health.

Practicing mindfulness can help officers stay healthy and effective in the face of the extreme stresses they encounter.

08/20/2024

Financial health and wellness is just as important as your mental and physical wellness. The IACP's "Financial Literacy" infographic has some great information on credit scores, budgeting, debt reduction, and planning for retirement. Print out a copy and put it up in the break room. You don't have to be a financial expert either, just start the conversation and educating yourself.

Financial planning is important for everyone, particularly for families of law enforcement officers, whose jobs are more unpredictable. ...

08/20/2024

mResilience offers an innovative, effective approach that helps first responders proactively manage stress, PTSD, and depression. Here’s how officers used the app.

The research that informed the mResilience program came from various sources and activities. With our initial focus on the law enforcement community, we sought to more fully understand that community. We looked at resilient factors, interventions that showed promise, and needs of the law enforcement

08/20/2024

Adjusting to swing and split-shift work can be brutal because it requires resetting your body’s internal circadian clock. The best way to do this is to include the same 3-4 hours of sleep time on workdays and days off. Wearing sunglasses on the way home, taking melatonin before sleeping, and exposure to bright light during the middle of your shift can help you power down too.

There are three mechanisms that may contribute to the health, performance, and safety problems associated with night-shift work: (1) circadian misalignment between the internal circadian clock and activities such as work, sleep, and eating, (2) chronic, ...

08/19/2024

Handling tough calls never gets easy, but there are things you can do to bounce back and build resilience. Here are some strategies to keep in mind. For more tips on how to improve your overall mental health and resilience, follow us .

08/14/2024

Develop the habit of looking for the positive. It builds optimism—a key trait of resilient people. Research with police officers after Hurricane Katrina showed a higher level of gratitude was associated with greater life satisfaction and less depression.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Violanti/publication/318428559_Stressful_life_events_and_posttraumatic_growth_among_police_officers_A_cross-sectional_study/links/5a706783458515015e62cdcb/Stressful-life-events-and-posttraumatic-growth-among-police-officers-A-cross-sectional-study.pdf

08/13/2024

What a powerful story. NYPD Officer Ron Griffith (Ret.) talks about his experiences on 9/11, costs of a career spent not talking about things, and how important it is to learn new ways of taking care of yourself early in your career.

Former officer Ron Griffith was in the middle of the crack epidemic and then came 9/11 where he was a first responder at Ground Zero. The compound ...

08/13/2024

Being a Police Psychologist offers a unique perspective into the work of police officers and the many challenges they face. In our discussion with Dr. Karen O’Brien we dive into many important topics.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f4976f58db1dc5929e5b9d2/t/60243dca62333256df756ff4/1612987851471/One+on+one+with+police+psychologist.pdf

08/13/2024

Sleep deprivation is no joke. With constant demands, overtime, and tough on-the-job events, healthy sleep can be a challenge. However, sleep needs to be a priority. Check out this video for 25 effects of sleep deprivation. You may be surprised by what you find out.

These days there is a high probability that you are not getting enough sleep. Here are 25 scary and surprising effects of sleep deprivation.https://twitter.c...

08/12/2024

For more tips to improve your nutrition and overall mental health and resilience, follow us .

08/07/2024

It took how many hours to buy that?! One of the simplest mind tricks to bring awareness to your spending habits is to calculate how many hours it takes to buy something you want. For instance, let's say your hourly work rate is $35.00/hr. With national income taxes removed, it equates to about $29.75 (not including state tax, retirement, etc). So, if you want to buy a new pair of $120 shoes you will have to work over 4 hours. Are the shoes worth it? Maybe, but you will be intentional with the purchase. Use this method to reduce impulsive purchases. Those add up and so do your hours paying for them!

https://lifehacker.com/this-calculator-shows-how-many-hours-of-work-that-big-p-1791816724

08/07/2024

On Purple Heart Day, we honor the brave individuals who have earned this esteemed award through their exceptional courage and sacrifice. Their stories of heroism inspire us all to cherish and defend the freedoms we hold dear. Let us remember and thank these true heroes today and every day.

08/06/2024

Today, many states in the US come together to celebrate community and strengthen bonds with local law enforcement. From block parties and parades to safety demos and youth activities, it’s all about creating safer, more connected neighborhoods. National Night Out helps foster a sense of togetherness and safety in our communities.

08/06/2024

TIAG’s mRes mobile app was designed for first responders, by first responders. We invite you to learn more about mResilience and its purpose.

Now more than ever, law enforcement officers and first responders are routinely exposed to traumatic events and crises that challenge their emotional, psychological, physical and mental resilience. To significantly improve health and wellness among their ranks, public safety departments and agencies

08/06/2024

Sure, it makes sense to form strong bonds with fellow officers. They get it. But when our relationships are limited to others with worldviews just like ours, we can lose perspective. Force yourself to expand your social circle beyond law enforcement. Spending time outside law enforcement circles will challenge your thinking and freshen your outlook.

08/06/2024

Did you know that the DoD and VA have self-assessments that anyone can take anonymously online to screen for PTSD? Check them out and remember, a high score isn’t a diagnosis. It’s just information to help educate, inform, and inspire you to take control of your mental health and wellness.

https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/ptsd-screening

08/05/2024

Your financial health has a direct impact on your mental and physical health, which is why it’s imperative to educate and inform yourself on ways to take control of your finances. Here are some best practices and tips that can help. For more tips on how to improve your overall wellness and resilience, follow us .

07/31/2024

You've probably heard the recommendation that we all have 3-6 months’ worth of our salary set aside in an emergency fund. Right. With most Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck, the thought of saving 6 months’ worth of salary can be mind-boggling. So, start small. Next paycheck, take out $10 and put it aside. That's it. That's the start of your emergency fund. Next paycheck, take out another $10 and add it to your fund. If you get a raise, take 1/2 of that raise and put it in your fund. You're on your way to greater financial security with those small steps.

When you are swimming in debt, and have creditors calling you every 30 minutes, the *last* thing you think you can do is put away for an “emergency”! Isn’t the aforementioned debt and creditors an emergency?!? What happens when your tires are so bald that the shop won’t even rotate them for ...

07/30/2024

The ability to “bounce back” is critical in the career of a first responder. Resilience building works, and mResilience offers hands-on resilience-building tools and strategies.

First responders put resilience to the  test every day. The ability to “bounce back” is critical to do the work of protecting and saving lives. But the challenges of first responder work hit at the core. Strengthening and maintaining resilience can be the cornerstone of any prevention progr

07/30/2024

Part of creating resilience is taking care of your financial wellness and part a that is being aware of your credit score. Credit scores range from 300 to 900. This score is a weighted summary of your debt, payment history, credit mix, and other factors. Decisions you make today will impact your credit score tomorrow. And that score can impact interest rates you'll have to pay for a car or even that house you always wanted. Get a copy of your credit score from any of the free online credit reporting agencies.

Find out more at

Find the official place to get a free credit report. See what information is in a credit report and how lenders and other organizations may use them.

07/30/2024

A powerful tool for staying mentally fit is looking outside of ourselves. It’s all too easy to get preoccupied with our own problems or the craziness of the job. Volunteer in your community, mow your neighbor’s lawn, or do some random act of kindness. Research shows that reaching out to others reduces negative mood, increases our sense of well-being, and benefits physical health.

People who give to others give healthier, happier lives to themselves, argues Meredith Maran.

07/29/2024

Ever get into a downward spiral of negative thoughts? Feel stuck? Does life seem unmanageable? It’s time to reflect and reset your mindset. Here are few ways to get started. For more tips to improve your mindset and overall mental health and resilience, follow us .

07/24/2024

Dispatchers are often surprised to learn there is a name, vicarious trauma, for the potential consequence of the tough calls they take. We've broken down what it means and ways to help mitigate it from a personal and organizational perspective.

“There’s an officer down…my child won’t wake up…I’m going to end it all right now.” Emergency dispatchers hear it all. That’s their job, to take the calls and listen to people’s fear, anguish, and suffering. Often dispatchers are surprised to learn there is a name for the potential...

07/23/2024

Real change, real results. Our pilot study showed that mResilience helps first responders build attainable achievements.

The research that informed the mResilience program came from various sources and activities. With our initial focus on the law enforcement community, we sought to more fully understand that community. We looked at resilient factors, interventions that showed promise, and needs of the law enforcement

07/23/2024

What we eat has a direct impact on our mental and physical health. One of the best ways to start making changes is to become more aware of your current habits. There’s no better way than tracking what you eat—and it’s never been easier. Studies have shown that tracking your food can help you successfully lose weight and maintain a healthy diet.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080708080738.htm

07/23/2024

Depending on your diet needs, meat can be part of a healthy lifestyle. However, overcooking food can lead to the formation of harmful compounds that can add risk for cancer. Before throwing chicken on the grill, check out this study on the effects of specified cooking methods.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174009003982

07/22/2024

Like situational awareness, self-awareness gives you choices. The goal isn’t to be engulfed by your emotions and feelings, but to observe and assess what’s coming up for you. Knowing how your body and mind respond to certain emotions allows you to react in a way that’s aligned with who you are and want to be. Here are some practices you can incorporate in your life to increase your self-awareness. For more tips on how to increase your self-awareness and improve your overall mental health and resilience, follow us .

07/17/2024

Sleep health is vital for your professional and personal lives. To combat sleep challenges, the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs put together a free online training specifically for sleep. This training helps you assess your sleep patterns and find ways to improve your sleep. Check it out!

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

07/16/2024

Meditation offers significant benefits to first responders. If you have question regarding its purpose, we have answers for you.

At the start of the mResilienc e project, we have met with, surveyed, and interviewed hundreds of first responders about how they build and strengthen their resilience. It might not surprise you to know that when we asked about meditation or mindfulness training, some responders chuckled. We got,