Identifying well-being challenges and solutions in the police service: A World Café approach

Abstract

Police work presents risks to mental and physical health for officers and civilian staff. We report a project using an innovative method that involved police employees in identifying well-being challenges and potential solutions. We facilitated ‘World Café’ events in which approximately 180 officers and civilian staff participated. Qualitative data were collected and thematically analysed drawing upon the Job Demands-Resources model. We developed themes relating to workload, management practices, occupational health processes, and continuing mental health stigma. Our analyses suggest an environment in which resources are insufficient to meet demands and the resulting pressures may contribute to management behaviours that can impair subordinate well-being.