Summary In this conversation, Mark Bouchard discusses the importance of addressing mental health and stigma within the police force. He shares his personal experience with psychological injury and emphasizes the need for proactive action and individual responsibility in maintaining mental health. Bouchard also highlights the concept of suicide by cop and the challenges faced by officers in making lethal force decisions. He calls for a shift in the understanding and treatment of officers involved in such incidents. In this conversation, the Delta Police Department discusses the importance of educating the public and themselves about the realities of police work. They also explore the psychological challenges faced by officers, including the decision to use lethal force and the impact of suicide by cop incidents. The conversation highlights the need for organizations to address mental health and wellness within their ranks, including providing resources and support for officers. The guests emphasize the importance of creating a culture that reduces stigma around mental health and encourages officers to seek help when needed.     Takeaways

• Police officers need to be taught about their own psychology and humanity to better handle the challenges they face and keep the public safe.
• Individuals should take proactive action and be active participants in their own mental health.
• The stigma surrounding mental health in law enforcement needs to be reduced to encourage officers to seek help.
• Lethal force decisions are complex and officers need more training and support to navigate these situations.
• Society needs to differentiate between non-culpable homicides and murder in cases of suicide by cop. Educating the public and police officers about the realities of police work can lead to better outcomes in incidents and help officers process traumatic experiences.
• The decision to use lethal force is a difficult one for officers, but they can find solace in knowing they are keeping their community safe.
• Incident commanders and leaders need to be prepared to make critical decisions, and training in instant command and critical thinking is crucial.
• Addressing mental health and wellness within police organizations is essential, as officers face higher rates of mental health disorders and suicide.
• Creating a culture that reduces stigma around mental health and encourages officers to seek help is important for their well-being and the well-being of the organization.
• Officers can develop healthy coping strategies and find meaning in their experiences to promote post-traumatic growth and resilience.

Chapters 00:00 Addressing Mental Health and Stigma 11:41 Proactive Action and Individual Responsibility 24:31 Reducing Stigma and Providing Support 25:26 Educating the Public and Police Officers 28:04 The Weight of the Decision: Using Lethal Force 28:31 Preparing Incident Commanders 29:24 Addressing Mental Health and Wellness 35:38 Reducing Stigma and Encouraging Help-Seeking 43:19 Finding Meaning and Promoting Resilience   Guest Biography

Mark Bouchard grew up in Delta, and joined the Delta Police Department as a police officer in 2007, after a few years as a volunteer in the Delta Police Reserve Program. Mark worked primarily in patrol and on the Emergency Response Team, prior to his departure in 2020 for the RCMP. Since then, Mark has continued to work patrol and Emergency Response, until his recent promotion into the RCMP'S National Tactical Medicine Program. He has also completed a master's degree in leadership with a focus on police culture and the impacts on police officer mental health. Mark has combined his experiences and research into a book that he published on Amazon in 2023. It is called Setting My Sights on Stigma: Thoughts From an Injured Mind, where he shares what he learned as he recovered from his PTSD diagnosis, with a goal to help other people.