World Mental Health Day is observed each year on October 10. At Axon, we take this day to honour the high-stress realities faced by those who serve, and the mental resilience required to navigate them. We are deeply committed to a proactive approach to mental resilience and post-traumatic growth, and are continuously developing tactical resources to support first responders globally.
This year, in honour of World Mental Health Day, Axon designed and distributed a My90 survey to officers across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Italy in an attempt to identify some of the best stress management strategies for today’s law enforcement officers.
Below are the top eight strategies identified from the survey. These strategies are ordered by popularity. The higher up on the list a given strategy is, the higher the percentage of survey respondents who noted they participated in that activity to manage their stress. Please note that this list is not meant to be comprehensive or meant to be taken as advice. The goal of this data is simply to motivate officers to participate in activities that help them manage their individual stress.
Top 8 officer-recommended stress management strategies
- Exercise and physical activity - Around 62% of respondents shared that exercise helps them decompress and manage their stress. The type of exercise respondents participated in varied, with survey responses citing running, gym workouts, weightlifting, HIIT training and walks. Around 11% of respondents reported taking part in Jiu Jitsu, bag work or boxing.
- Hobbies outside of the police profession - Over 50% of respondents shared that maintaining a hobby such as painting, gardening or even reading helped them mitigate their stress levels.
- Spending time with friends and family - Over 64% of respondents wrote that spending time with friends and family was one of their key stress management strategies. Social support is critical for emotional health. For many, the ability to unwind with loved ones acts as a buffer against job-related stress, showcasing the value of relationships and empathy in mental health.
- Mental fitness and stress reduction techniques - Mental fitness and stress reduction techniques take many forms. These techniques include meditation or yoga, breathing exercises, or grounding activities that encourage an individual to focus on their five senses to handle immediate stressors, especially when anxiety or panic attacks occur.
- Relaxation through entertainment - It may not seem like a stress management strategy, but many individuals find comfort and relief through entertainment. This can be as simply as watching TV or a movie or playing video games after work to unwind. Over 43% of respondents also cited listening to music or podcasts to help destress.
- Talking with someone - A major stress management strategy is simply sharing your thoughts and feelings with another person. 19.4% of respondents shared that they participate in verbal debriefs with a supervisor or peer support or CISM team. 31% of respondents shared that they participate in verbal debriefs with colleagues or peers. For some, it seemed particularly important to debrief on stressful work events with those who “get it.” According to one survey respondent “I tend to confide in others that can relate to the experience that I had.”
- Change of scenery/removal from the situation - When all else fails, sometimes the best way to reduce your stress is simply to distance yourself from a given stressor. Around 11% of respondents shared that they will remove themselves from a situation or ask someone to cover them after a critical incident if they need to destress.
- Prioritisation/Problem-Solving - 5% of respondents shared that they take a rather methodical approach to stress management. These folks break down tasks into smaller bits, and focus on prioritising or problem-solving to reduce overwhelm.
There are many ways to positively impact stress levels. If any of the above tactics sound particularly useful for, feel free to share them or adopt them into your own routine. If these tactics aren’t for you, keep searching for other ways to proactively manage your stress. Please keep in mind that if you or someone you love is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, or may be a danger to themselves or others, call your local emergency number as soon as possible.
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