Law Enforcement

For some, this may be the first time but for others this is the 20th time that their spouse has been called to active duty.

According to licensed marriage and family therapist, Staci Lee Schnell, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that occurs following a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault.

According to the organization, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), “Moral injury is when one feels they have violated their conscience of moral compass when they take part in, witness or fail to prevent an act that disobeys their own moral values or personal principles.

Deployment can often affect children in the same way as a divorce. They experience similar worries such as what will happen to them, who will take care of them, or if the non-deployed parent is going to leave too. It's important to make sure your child feels loved and consistently assure they are not responsible for their parent going away.

For a deployed service member, care packages can be a significant morale booster. Carefully selecting and packing the contents can also help you feel closer.

Due to the nature of police work, it can be difficult to balance between being a great father and successful law enforcement professional. The skills needed for this type of work can conflict with the skills needed to be a healthy family man.

The lives of those closest to a law enforcement employee are often impacted in various ways. Friends, parents, siblings, and children of the employee will experience unique challenges as part of their support network.