Abstract
Police officers have a history of decreased willingness to seek mental health help. Increasing focus has been placed on enhancing the officer's mental wellbeing but has this improved their help-seeking behavior? METHODS: This cross-sectional quantitative study evaluated officers' mental health help-seeking attitudes, intentions, and stereotyping of others seeking help using mental distress levels. Data was collected from 337 officers across 22 states. RESULTS: Statistical significance was found in 1) age and mental distress, 2) gender on help-seeking attitudes, intentions, and stereotyping, and 3) experience and mental distress. Officers reported more positive help-seeking attitudes, intentions, and stereotyping. CONCLUSIONS: Officers in this study showed improved help-seeking behaviors, positive stereotyping of help-seekers, and the majority of officers fell within the low (0-4) and moderate (5-12) mental distress groups. Results could be due to increased departmental focus on police-centric mental wellbeing services and education.