Supporting the Well-being of Members Working in Law Enforcement

What does it look like to be financially healthy, and how can you achieve it? In particular, what does it look like for peace officers – who face the everyday pressures of their profession –to maintain not only financial health but mental health as well? Most credit union experts agree that there are four key components in obtaining the financial health and freedom that our members desire: Spend, save, borrow and plan.

Each of these components are a vital part of securing and maintaining our members’ financial well-being. Maintaining financial health is not simply good for their wallet, it is good for their physical and mental health as well. Sustaining the financial and mental wellness of our members is one of the CAHP Credit Union’s top priorities.

Law enforcement officers have arguably the most stressful job in the country. Prolonged exposure to critical incidents can lead to altered behaviors, compulsive economic behaviors, and a decline in mental and physical health. These effects can impact relationships with their families and put a strain on their finances. Like many credit union members today, an officer’s financial life can become one continuous interaction between making major purchases that are designed to alleviate some psychological distress and provide some recreational relief, and the need to address the financial obligations from these types of purchases with increased overtime hours. Often, money can be used as a coping mechanism and stress reliever, as wants are put ahead of needs and long-term savings are put aside for immediate gratification.

Here, we’ll explore Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI)/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and how it affects the financial and mental wellness of CAHP members. We’ll observe the basics of financial health and discuss its four core components mentioned above (spend, save, borrow and plan).

CAHP is diligent in our commitment to serve those who serve us. One of the ways that we are able to do that for our members is by providing tools and knowledge to set attainable financial goals and maintain financial wellness. The CAHP developed a state-certified class, “Financial Wellness for Peace Officers,” to help our members during all of their life stages. This class has helped our members navigate PTSI and its financial and mental implications that arise as a result.

What Is PTSI?

PTSI is a biological injury that occurs and develops after an individual has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. For those who have PTSI, ongoing symptoms include flashbacks, fear, anxiety, depression, marital discord, declined physical health and financial health, and even suicide. Typically, during the course of a year, more officers die by suicide than in the line of duty.

On average, CAHP members will witness a little less than 200 critical incidents during the span of their career. Law enforcement officers will see more troubling events in one month than the average person will see in a lifetime: Shootings, domestic disputes, traffic fatalities, accidental drowning, overdoses and more. As exposure to these situations increase, it can take a toll and potentially turn into PTSI.

First responders have arguably the most stressful jobs in the country. Their ongoing exposure to these traumatic events and incidents can lead to altered behaviors, compulsive economic behaviors and a decline in their mental, physical and financial health.

Much is being done to help regarding PTSI. In 2019, Senate Bill 542, authored by Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) and co-sponsored by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP), became law. SB 542 recognizes post-traumatic stress as an injury and amends current workers’ compensation laws to include PTSI. The bill also allows peace officers and firefighters to claim workers’ compensation for injuries that develop after a critical incident.

PTSI and Financial Stress

PTSI can affect our members’ financial health and thus cause financial stress and burden. When an individual has financial stress in their life, the stress can become debilitating, causing health issues, the inability to take action and plan for emergencies, and pushing off of happy events (vacations, retirements, weddings, graduations, etc.).

For example, financial stress can often come from the inability to pay ongoing debt. Part of living with PTSI and living through a traumatic event can be self-medication through retail therapy. Retail therapy is a coping mechanism that uses shopping to increase one’s mood or change behavior. Often this type of overspending can result in more debt, leading to more and more financial stress. And to try to recover from retail therapy and debt, peace officers often work more overtime, which can cause more stress both physically and mentally.

CAHP realizes that good financial health leads to wealth and overall financial freedom. Yet, we also understand that with PTSI and the resulting financial stress, it can be difficult to maintain financial health.

As we have seen, steps are being put in place to help with PTSI, which is why CAHP is so adamant about being a part of the solution for our members by providing the resources to promote and sustain financial health and mental wellness.

Considering the amount of stress in our lives today, I believe the credit union movement should focus on understanding the correlation between financial wellness and mental health.

Brad Houle is President/CEO for the $300 million, Sacramento, Calif.-based CAHP Credit Union.