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Struggle Well Case Study: Tucson PD

In 2021, the Tucson Police Department (TPD) was facing a severe crisis. Amid the pandemic, civil unrest, severe staffing shortages, and a surge in violence, the breaking point came when two employees took their own lives within two months. Despite having a robust Mental Health Support Team, a Behavioral Sciences Unit, a department psychologist, and two sergeants, it became evident that these resources were not enough.

In response, TPD partnered with Boulder Crest Foundation to implement an organizational change initiative — Struggle Well — focused on creating a culture of trust and supporting staff wellbeing.

Key Findings

Struggle Well Impact & Benefits

The case study revealed some key findings, observations, lessons learned, and benefits of Struggle Well training at Tucson PD.

What Made Struggle Well Work at TPD?

Tucson PD took key steps to successfully integrate Struggle Well into the department. This section outlines the strategy, approach, and process taken by TPD to achieve successful program saturation.

Key Indicators Your Agency Could Benefit

There are a number of key indicators that an Agency can benefit from Struggle Well training. This section outlines those important markers.

Best Practices for Agencies

There are key steps that needs to be taken to successfully integrate Struggle Well into your department. The following outlines a roadmap for success.

We were dealing with the Pandemic, the civil unrest, as well as significant staffing shortages, and then on top of that some record breaking violence. Our turning point was the Summer of 2021 when we had two employees take their lives within two months.

Monica Prieto, Deputy Chief of Police, Tucson Police Department

Background

History of Partnership

How did Boulder Crest partner with Tucson Police Department for Struggle Well?

Case Study Methodology

Explore our case study goals, approach, and methodology.

Download the Highlights

Download this recap of the Case Study findings and frequently asked questions.

Cultural Transformation

In 2021, Tucson PD knew they needed to make a change to better serve their officers and community. That led to a partnership with Boulder Crest Foundation and the adoption of Struggle Well — a Posttraumatic Growth based program focused on normalizing the struggle those in law enforcement experience in their lives, both personally and professionally.

There’s been a great complement to what we in BSU do because not everything needs peer support or psychological intervention. We know that some people just feel more comfortable going through the wellness versus the behavioral science route.

Tucson Police Department BSU

70%

In Posttraumatic Growth after Struggle Well was launched with TPD

86%

Increase in Deeper Relationships after Struggle Well was launched with TPD

59%

Increase in New Possibilities after Struggle Well was launched with TPD

Frequently Asked Questions

Struggle Well has aided agencies experiencing the following difficulties:

Retention issues
Trust of agency leadership within staff ranks
Underutilized Wellness Initiatives
An institutional feeling of fear to report struggle or difficulties
Poor engagement with peers, family, and community

Struggle Well fits well within an Agency’s Wellness Strategies by:

Improving the use of an Agency’s existing Wellness Resources
Creating an atmosphere of normalizing struggle and use of wellness strategies
Increasing the use/trust in Mental Health Professionals/Clinicians and existing Wellness Strategies
Improving the buy-in and officer-driven expansion of wellness opportunities within the Agency

The Struggle Well Program is rooted in the concept of partnership and building a PTG program that meets the needs of agency cultures; however, the following practices have been found to help most agencies build a sustainable SW Model:

Shifting the narrative from a negative perspective of PTSD to a positive perspective including PTG, communication, and trust
Developing a top-down agency-wide planning model to include all executive command and leadership in the planning, implementation, and participation of SW Training
Maintaining the SW ‘s fundamental element of confidentiality as the priority of an Agency’s SW Program plan
Creating a culture of intentional program saturation across all training and staffing platforms from basic training through retirement
Blending participants across ranks and disciplines within each training cohort to build cohesiveness

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Struggle Well Case Study: Tucson PD

Key Findings

Struggle Well Impact & Benefits

What Made Struggle Well Work at TPD?

Key Indicators Your Agency Could Benefit

Best Practices for Agencies

Background

History of Partnership

Case Study Methodology

Download the Highlights

Cultural Transformation

The Impact of Struggle Well In Arizona

70%

86%

59%

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my agency could benefit from Struggle Well?

How does Struggle Well integrate with our Agency Wellness Initiatives?

What are the key factors that have made Struggle Well work in other Agencies?

How do I get more information about bringing Struggle Well to my agency?

Learn more about the 1-day, 2-day, and 5-day Struggle Well programs

Give strength & hope to those who serve