After the War-PTSD and Related Disorders
and Veteran Law Enforcement Personnel

Cert. Number 4561-053428

This course is designed to inform the participants of the possible after effects of serving in the armed forces. 1 in 5 of the service men and women who are active today and have been deployed to one of the recent conflict's fronts are suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). This figure is from the most recent research.

Many veterans go into law enforcement (Police, Sheriff's Department, Probation, Corrections, etc.) as a career when they leave the military or they have been an officer before they were deployed, as in National Guard or Army Reserve service members.

This course is about educating people on the challenges these men and women may struggle with upon their return to civilian life and their occupations. The specifics of being a law enforcement professional can be challenging in itself as well as quite a healthy, structured atmosphere at the same time.

This course informs about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Depression, Anxiety, suicidality and other issues that veterans may deal with after coming home and getting back into the mainstream of life, including working in their law enforcement position. This is an important body of knowledge for supervisors or management staff to have. The numbers of returning troops are ever increasing and the issues that they deal with need to be faced, addressed and attended to in order for them to be truly successful in their lives going forward. Also included are presentations from relevant veterans resource organizations to facilitate further assistance as needed.   

At the conclusion of this course participants will be able to:

a) Describe the challenges faced by returning veterans, both on the job and at home.
b) Describe the signs and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that are unique to veterans.
c) Explain the mental, emotional and physical consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury and how these can affect a law enforcement professional
d) Articulate the "triggers" due to PTSD and TBI that are most associated with coping problems.
e) Identify the signs of depression and suicidal ideation and behaviors in law enforcement personnel.
f) Demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the instructor, effective skills and strategies for interacting with veterans with PTSD and TBI's.
g) Identify current effective treatments for veterans and the best available resources to obtain these.