Researchers have found that the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rate for correctional officers is higher than for the military or police officers. A primary reason is correctional officers work in a confined institution in which there is a constant risk of having a hands-on intervention with residents. For the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ), the risk is much greater because officers do not have access to industry standard interventions of leg restraints, the restraint chair and OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray.
A new intervention to treat PTSD has been created not by clinicians, but by military veterans who have experienced PTSD, done their research on the brain and come up with a successful treatment called “healing for heroes,” which primarily uses dissociative and reframing techniques.
The treatment does not expose the person to a prolonged focus on the trauma incident(s) like in exposure therapy. The focus is short term but concentrated. The treatment not only provides interventions that effectively treat past PTSD experiences but gives officers tools to effectively process future situations of hands-on interventions.
A few ACJ correctional officers have participated in the treatment and have reported significant results improving concentration and decreasing stress, improved sleep and improved relationships with family.
The warden and Allegheny County executive would be wise to provide this treatment to any officers who would like to participate. The benefits of improved retention, improved job performance, job satisfaction and communication with the officers’ families would be significant.
John Kenstowicz
Morningside
The writer is an advocate working to better living and working conditions in the Allegheny County Jail.