AUSTIN—Gover nor Greg Abbott has signed HB 2619 into law. This bill, by State Representative Helen Giddings (Dallas), will create a new grant program to support officer mental health care in police departments across the state.
In response, Rep. Giddings offered the following statement:
“I am delighted that Texas police officers will now have access to the mental health supports they need. On any given day, our officers are exposed to bloodshed, carnage, and horrors that would shake any one of us to our core. With his new program, we will protect our officers from the grip of mental trauma.” Police work is one of the most stressful occupations. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly one in four officers has thoughts of suicide at some point in their life. The suicide rate is almost four times the national average. In addition, between 7-19% of officers have symptoms of PTSD and require treatment.
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