Pilot-testing Multiple Interventions to Enhance Mental Health and Wellbeing of Police and Law Enforcement Staff

Secondary Investigative Analysts (SIAs) are indirectly exposed to distressing material, placing them at risk of adverse mental health outcomes. There is a lack of evidence-based interventions tailored to this population’s unique circumstance/risks. Using 90 SIAs, we evaluated effectiveness of four 4-week mechanism-targeted interventions (mental imagery, nature walking, psychoeducation, Tetris breaks) on anxiety, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, PTSD, and general wellbeing. Interventions were compared to a control. Mixed-effects modelling found all interventions were effective, with psychoeducation improving all wellbeing variables. Findings show interventions, particularly psychoeducation, provide meaningful benefits for SIAs, highlighting the importance of context-sensitive, evidence-informed wellbeing strategies for trauma-exposed personnel.