Change can be hard, especially when it comes to attitudes about mental health.

But a program addressing that as well as physical fitness is at least bringing awareness to the forefront within one local police department.

July marks one year since Mentor created its Officer Safety and Wellness Program, paid for with a $33,906 grant from the Department of Justices COPS Office.

Our goal when we started this program was to change the culture of the Mentor Police Department, said Capt. Michael Majernik, who oversees the program. We wanted our employees to realize that mental health issues are real and part of the job. We wanted to give them proper avenues to address these issues.

We also wanted to stress to our employees that mental and physical health are intertwined. We knew we weren't going to change the culture overnight but are happy with the progress we've made so far.

The grant money was used to cover costs including a department-assigned program facilitator and contracts with Lake Health and Crossroads to supply related training and services.

A personal trainer helps promote physical health via exercise routines, alongside training on wellness topics such as proper nutrition, the importance of rest and stress management.

Personal trainer Bobby Kaleal assists Mentor Police Capt. Michael Majernik during a workout as part of the department's Officer Safety and Wellness program.

In addition, Crossroads Health provides training and education related to mental health, assists in building a peer-support system and offers counseling sessions.

Participation in the program is voluntary, but the goal is to get as many officers onboard as possible.

I don't have an exact number of those that have participated, but we have had a good number of officers and staff that have participated in classroom presentations by our peer supporters as well as the physical trainers, Majernik said. A good number of officers have also reached out to the personal trainers to develop workout and diet plans.

Police work leads to post-traumatic stress disorder in an estimated 15 percent of U.S. police officers, according to Blue H.E.L.P., a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the service of law enforcers who committed suicide.

There were 239 such deaths nationwide in 2019, and the number had been steadily rising since 2016 when Blue H.E.L.P. records began until 2020. Amid the pandemic, that number dipped to 173.

Job-related stress increases the risk of hypertension, musculoskeletal pain, obesity, cardiovascular disease, panic attacks, phobia and substance abuse, as well as suicide, police Chief Ken Gunsch has said.

Other challenges for police include long hours, unpredictable schedules, exposure to critical incidents, various physical demands and high rates of on-the-job injuries.

The bottom line is law enforcement needs all the support they can get, said Bobby Kaleal of Bodies Done Right, LLC, a consultant for Lake Health who developed the wellness program. We need to help provide them with all the tools to reach their potential mentally, emotionally, physically, nutritionally and psychologically.

The department has applied for another grant to build on the successes made thus far.

However, the program is designed to be sustainable, regardless of whether another grant is available.

We have trained five peer supporters and have one officer who will be certified as a tactical strength and conditioning facilitator in the very near future, Majernik said. This will allow us to continue to build our Wellness Program, with trained personnel on staff.

While the program has been well-received within the department, the effort to end the stigma surrounding mental health continues.

Our goal is to break down that stigma, he said. I think the Wellness Program is starting to chip away at it. It is going to take time, but I think we are making good progress.

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Mentor Officer Safety, Wellness program 'making good progress' after one year - News-Herald.com