Arizona police get mental-health help at Officer Wellness Day

PHOENIX — Police officers often see the unimaginable. Several Valley agencies are coming together to better support officer’s mental health and help them process the difficult situations that so often arise.

Officer Wellness Day, held Friday, is a free all-day workshop that provides family life, officer self-care, mindfulness, relationships, yoga, trauma and financial health seminars.

Cigna Behavioral Health counselor Laura Magnuson helped lead the event.

“We have session a yoga session, equine session, finical session, a therapist that talks about trauma and its impacts on health and the brain,” Magnuson told 92.3 FM KTAR News on Thursday.

Magnuson is the daughter of a retired police officer. With her understanding and personal experience, she led a therapy session about the impact police work can have on family members.

The Tempe Officers Association is among the founders of Officer Wellness Day. Officer Anna Cano called it a “self-check” to help officers make sure they’re taking the proper steps to remain healthy.

She described what the event means to her personally while working in the line of duty.

“Often, we just go from call to call and we need to sometimes realize it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to take our belt off and focus on ourselves for a little while,” Cano said.

All law enforcement agents in Arizona were eligible for event.

The sessions reached maximum capacity. Sponsor groups hope to continue providing services for Officer Wellness Day.

It is held once a year at an undisclosed location for the officers’ safety.

Related

Arizona nonprofit releases mental health app for first respondersArizona securities fraudster ordered to pay more than $2.7M in restitutionArizona regulators approve plan to shield rural energy customers from data centers costsAHS urges owners to get pets year-round vaccinations with preventable diseases on riseMan dies almost a week after being assaulted during Maryvale soccer game fightMan sentenced to life in prison for killing New River pastor