The Mental Toll of Policing in Ciudad Juarez
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – Being a police officer in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, entails more than just confronting daily dangers; it presents a profound challenge to mental well-being. Many officers grapple with stress, anxiety, and in some cases, even suicidal ideation. This critical issue has led the municipality to become a national pioneer in mandating psychological support for its police force.
Officers report that not only high-risk situations like drug trafficking, robberies, or homicides contribute to their stress, but also the emotional and mental toll of repeatedly addressing domestic violence cases. These situations, though not always life-threatening, are emotionally draining over time.
In response to these growing concerns, the Ciudad Juarez City Council unanimously approved modifications to the Municipal Public Security System Regulations in April 2022. These changes made psychological care mandatory for all officers within the Municipal Public Security Secretariat (SSPM), aiming to reduce suicide rates and mitigate instances of stress, depression, and anxiety within the force.
Daily Strain: Beyond High-Risk Situations
Mayra Castro Salazar, an SSPM officer with two years of service, explains that stress often arises not from high-stakes incidents like homicides or police chases, but from the cumulative impact of domestic violence cases. “It’s stressful sometimes to handle cases and arrive, and we, as women, even though we are police officers, also experience domestic violence. As a police officer, you give it more importance,” says Castro, who currently works in an administrative role within the corporation.
Castro attends group therapy sessions offered by the SSPM to process her emotions and manage the stress and frustration that can accumulate from addressing domestic violence in the community.
Judith, another officer with only six months on the force, shares a similar experience. She recounts how officers experience stress from situations that are not high-impact but resonate with personal experiences or what they witness as ordinary citizens. “In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve had to deal with tough issues, family violence, cases involving children. These are drastic issues,” Judith tells EL UNIVERSAL.
A Unique Initiative: The UDAPP Unit
Victoria Barraza, coordinator of the Mixed Unit for Legal Defense and Psychological Care for Police Officers and their Families (UDAPP), elaborates on the unit’s establishment. The UDAPP was created to address the mental health needs of over 3,000 municipal officers in Ciudad Juarez. The decision to make mental health care mandatory followed a series of suicides within the force, prompting the City Council to act.
Therapy sessions provide officers with essential tools for managing stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. These sessions are compulsory for everyone, from SSPM chief César Omar Muñoz Morales down to commanders and cadets at the Municipal Academy.
Barraza acknowledges that initially, there was resistance, particularly from male officers who believed that “they are police officers and are not crazy.” However, attending these sessions has become normalized, and many officers now anonymously report colleagues who may be at risk of suicide.
“This project had been in the works since 2017 but was not operating as it is now. It started with three psychologists and three lawyers. In 2021, the initiative was re-launched and fully integrated into the Secretariat, including setting up a dedicated space, and little by little, work began,” Barraza details.
A tragic incident in early 2022 served as a stark catalyst. A female officer ended the lives of her partner, also an SSPM member, and their six-month-old baby, before taking her own life. “That incident caused a great stir nationally and internationally, raising questions about the well-being of those who protect us. What conditions are they in? And that was the starting point for the City Council to understand the importance of having their own serious programs and plans, and continuous and permanent follow-up above all,” Barraza adds.
This tragedy underscored the public entity’s obligation to ensure the welfare of its officers, enabling them to perform their duties effectively on the streets and for the community. “All members of the corporation are now obliged to follow the plans and programs. This helped to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Whenever we attend to an officer, they already know it’s a logistics of care, that they will come once, twice, or even three times a year. It’s already normalized, and that greatly facilitates resistance.”
Comprehensive Evaluation and Evolving Protocols
Upon launching the UDAPP program, 100% of police officers underwent psychological evaluations to assess their mental health and psycho-emotional state. These evaluations revealed widespread stress among officers due to their daily exposure to suffering, the normalization of violence, and the cases they handle, in addition to varying levels of anxiety and depression.
Based on these findings, the UDAPP expanded its staff to 16 psychologists and five lawyers. Furthermore, specific protocols were developed for mental health care, categorizing them into action, reaction, and attention protocols.
The head of the UDAPP notes that the unit has also addressed cases of officers who attempted suicide. In response, actions were implemented to identify at-risk officers, and a 24/7 helpline was established, allowing officers to seek personal help or anonymously report colleagues in danger. “This has allowed us to create awareness among them that if they detect or notice any strange situation, they already know what the warning signs are and what they need to do.”
In addition to these measures, psycho-educational events are conducted monthly, tailored to mental health indicators. For example, the first week of March focused on women, addressing the burdens and roles of women within the policing profession.
Barraza asserts that these initiatives have brought about a significant shift in officers’ attitudes towards mental health, not only for themselves but also for their children and families. Police officers are now more willing to seek psychological help voluntarily, shedding their initial reluctance. Currently, therapy sessions are conducted during officers’ shifts, and all 3,000 members of the force, including commanders and directors, have participated.
Source: vanguardia.com.mx
