Struggle Well Case Study: Tucson PD

What Made SW Work at TPD?

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Tucson PD took key steps to successfully integrate Struggle Well into the department. Here are some of the items that made the program work.

​Buy In & Participation from Leadership

  • Leadership set an example by clearing their schedules to make  training a priority, opening training and being vulnerable, and attending final training day to engage with students and support ideas

​Top-down Planning

  • Executive command and leadership were present for the planning and implementation of the program
  • Recognized and solved for logistical and scheduling challenges with creativity

Strategic Recruitment & Blended Training

  • TPD strategically filled class rosters with a mix of diverse roles, ages, teams, and outlook on life
  • TPD let word of mouth be a powerful factor in generating awareness and interest
There has to be a point though where the people in the agency see it as integral to the culture where new leadership would get feedback that they better keep this going. Now if the TPD chief said, ok, we’re not doing Struggle Well anymore. I can’t imagine that would go over well at this point.
Struggle Well program participant, Tucson Police Department

​Program Saturation

  • Intentional saturation from basic training through retirement
  • Development of agency specific training protocols and systems
  • TPD includes alumni refreshers each month
  • Identified opportunities to promote the philosophy of PTG and Struggle Well throughout the agency

​Trust, Confidentiality

  • Built an agency-wide plan centered on communication and trust
  • Established a norm of confidentiality — a crucial building block and key element in the success of the program

​Consistent & Department Wide Participation

  • TPD made it clear that all staff were expected to participate and eventually go through SW training
  • A schedule of regular training sessions helped to socialize expectations
  • Led to a shift in demeanor from dutifully attending to being excited by the opportunity. This was a tipping point for cultural change
There are just some dudes that are not ever going to see a shrink. So this [Struggle Well] democratizes psychology.
Struggle Well program participant, Tucson Police Department

​Training Structure

  • Strategic order of speakers starting with most vulnerable to set the tone for student participation
  • Support from BSU
  • Established clear goals and accountability expectations
  • Training followed familiar formats and styles that established a sense of comfort with attendees

Quality of Trainers

  • Trainers must be knowledgeable and authentic to establish credibility early on in training
  • Relationships between expert guides and participants must be fostered and ongoing
  • TPD has provided 14 officers who have become fully trained expert guides
PTSD is something we are all familiar with, but I had not heard this alternate viewpoint, this growth aspect. There was something about that concept that struggles are an opportunity for growth. I dig that.
Struggle Well program participant, Tucson Police Department