Law enforcement, first responders, attorneys, and criminal justice professionals spend their careers confronting trauma, whether in courtrooms, interrogation rooms, or on the front lines of law enforcement. That work, while essential, can carry a steep personal cost.
A recent webinar hosted by the National Center for Health and Justice Integration for Suicide Prevention (NCHATS) and the Addiction Policy Forum (APF) brought prosecutors, law enforcement leaders, and researchers together to talk about best practices for wellness, mental health, and suicide prevention in the profession.
“After years of doing exclusively child abuse and sexual assault cases, I realized I was suffering from secondary trauma,” said Mary Ashley, deputy district attorney in San Bernardino County, Calif. “We are not wired to see violence repeatedly. If we don’t address it, that cost of caring becomes burnout and compassion fatigue.”
Ashley, who also serves as vice chair of the National District Attorneys Association’s Well-Being Committee, said the profession has long prided itself on toughness. That culture often discouraged people from asking for help, fearing it would be seen as weakness. She noted that has begun to change.
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- CopLine (800-267-5463) — Confidential peer support line staffed by retired law enforcement officers.
The pressures are clear. A 2024 survey of prosecutors by the National District Attorneys Association found that while 93% of respondents said they enjoyed their jobs, 57% had seriously considered leaving. The No. 2 reason cited—behind pay—was concern for their own well-being.
Domingo Herraiz, director of programs at the International Association of Chiefs of Police, said law enforcement faces many of the same challenges. The organization has launched officer resilience training, peer support initiatives, and family wellness programs to help break down stigma and normalize seeking help.
“It really comes down to self-perception and stigma,” Herraiz said. “If we don’t break down the stigma of getting help, we’re going to miss the mark. Officers and prosecutors alike need to know it’s OK to seek support.”
Jennifer Johnson, PhD, Chair of the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health at Michigan State University, and co-director of NCHATS, said the issue extends across criminal and legal systems. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death nationwide and one in five people who die by suicide have spent a night in jail in the previous year. But the risk isn’t only for those in custody.
“Our partners have told us again and again that they are worried about taking care of their own,” Johnson said. “A healthy officer is much more likely to be able to respond better to someone with a mental health crisis. That’s why wellness for criminal justice professionals is so critical.”
The webinar emphasized that solutions must be both cultural and practical. Ashley highlighted creative approaches being tried in prosecutors’ offices, from rotating difficult assignments to creating “puzzle rooms” and peer support teams. San Diego’s “Be Well to Serve Well” program, for example, gives attorneys paid time to volunteer in the community as a form of stress relief and renewal.
“It really comes down to self-perception and stigma,” Herraiz said. “If we don’t break down the stigma of getting help, we’re going to miss the mark. Officers and prosecutors alike need to know it’s OK to seek support.”
Herraiz noted that his organization frames its work around prevention, intervention, and “postvention,” which means building resilience early, supporting staff after traumatic events, and helping officers grow after tragedy. The approach, he said, borrows lessons from the military and adapts them to policing.
Technology, changing generational attitudes and leadership commitment have also made a difference. Younger recruits, Herraiz said, are more open about mental health, nutrition, and sleep than previous generations. Apps and wearable devices can track stress, while confidential hotlines and wellness platforms are increasingly available. Other leading approaches include trained peer counselors and therapy animals.
Still, challenges remain. Fear of loss of access to firearms and perceived stigma tied to fitness-for-duty evaluations continue to be barriers to transparency for officers in crisis. Family strain is another key factor, with high divorce rates and difficulties talking about traumatic experiences at home. That’s why Herraiz emphasized the importance of including spouses and children in wellness programming.
Throughout the webinar, panelists pointed back to one overarching theme: cultural change is essential and must be modeled by agency leaders. Just as officers are trained in tactics and prosecutors in trial law, they argued, wellness training must become part of professional competence.
The conversation, organizers said, is part of a growing movement. Both NCHATS and the Addiction Policy Forum plan to continue bringing together leaders across justice and health systems to share resources and strategies.
“Smashing the stigma costs nothing,” Ashley said. “When we create an atmosphere that encourages people to take care of themselves and their families, we end up with prosecutors and officers who are better reasoned, more ethical and better able to serve their communities.”
November 25, 2025
