Helping police get mental health services

In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in 2012, Connecticut not only crafted some of the toughest gun control legislation in the United States, but also maintained pressure on the rest of the nation to follow suit. But that legislation was never perfect. Mental health experts quickly recognized contradictions. Someone who voluntarily checked into a psychiatric facility automatically surrendered their right to carry a gun for six months.

The very concept stigmatized mental illness. It was a blanket rule, even for any lawyer, doctor or educator who wisely went in for a mental health tune-up.

Meanwhile, someone who was involuntarily sent to a facility — someone seen as a potential danger to themselves or others — could retain their weapons.

Such lapses in logic still challenge legislators as they try to refine Connecticut gun legislation.

Mental health treatment is not this black and white. Someone coping with anxiety or grieving should be encouraged to get help. In some cases there is certainly wisdom in restricting access to weapons. But mental health is as unique as every human being.

Police officers are on the front lines of mental illness. Not only do they routinely deal with a myriad of sufferers, but they are eyewitnesses to tragedy.

We want police officers to seek help when they need it, and almost anyone would need it after witnessing the death of a child, domestic violence or consoling victims of abuse.

But officers face a unique consequence for tending after their own mental health. Signing up for psychiatric care in Connecticut means they can lose access to their service weapon for at least six months.

Some work around the law by crossing state lines in search of support. Others never get help, fearing a loss of livelihood.

House Bill 5154 attempts to better shield police officers. The bill, which has cleared the Judiciary Committee, would prohibit an officer from being disciplined solely because he or she is seeking mental health services.

It’s not a free pass. Officers would still have to undergo a mental health evaluation before a firearm is returned. It’s a fair solution, as six months can be too long, or not long enough.

Legislators must pay close attention to the details to ensure they get this right.

The measure drew support from Sen. Dan Champagne, R-Vernon, a former officer who acknowledges suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“Many officers commit suicide because they don’t get the therapy they need,” Champagne said.

Some data has suggested police are 1.5 times more likely to commit suicide than the rest of the population.

James Rascati, a clinical instructor in psychiatry at Yale University who has advised many departments, said the macho culture common at many police departments is a deterrent to seeking help from a therapist.

An officer should be allowed back on the job when they are cleared by an expert. When it comes to gun legislation, it’s more important to be practical than to be tough.

In some cases there is certainly wisdom in restricting access to weapons. But mental health is as unique as every human being.