Dr. Delaine Shackleton, R.Psych 

 

What is Resilience?

Resilience is the ability to adapt, recover, and grow through adversity and stress.

It protects mental health and enhances long-term performance.

Why It Matters for Police Officers

In policing, exposure to chronic and critical stress is unavoidable. Resilience helps you stay 

Pillars of Resilience

Emotional	Cognitive	Behavioural
Recognizing and regulating         emotions.	Reframing negative thoughts and staying mentally flexible.	Engaging in healthy routines and positive actions.

 

Signs Your Resilience is Low
- Increased irritability or anger
- Withdrawal from others
- Sleep disruption
- Cynical or rigid thinking
- Hopelessness or emotional numbness

 

Unhelpful vs Helpful Patterns

Thoughts	Behaviours	Emotions
“I should handle this alone.” “I can’t trust anyone.”	Withdrawing, lashing out, avoiding help.	Guilt, shame, detachment, hypervigilance.
“Asking for support shows strength.” “Some people can be trusted with some things.”	Connecting with peers, using coping tools, reaching out.	Recognizing discomfort and using coping skills to manage it.

 

 

Key Takeaways
• Stress is not always the enemy — unmanaged stress is.
• Resilience is built through daily habits, support, and awareness.
• Resilience and mental health is part of operational readiness. It is essential, not an extra.