07/20/2026
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When a police officer is asked, “How are you doing?” the answer is often, “I’m fine.” Those two words can carry a much deeper meaning than people realize. It did for me, for years after my critical incident. For many officers, including me, saying “I’m fine” becomes a habit, a response shaped by years of training, expectations, and a culture that teaches them to remain strong during the most difficult moments.
Police officers are regularly exposed to trauma, violence, death, suffering, and situations most people will never experience. They are expected to make critical decisions under extreme pressure while protecting others. Over time, some officers learn to hide their own emotions because they believe showing vulnerability may be viewed as weakness, or they worry about how others may perceive them.
Behind the words “I’m fine” there may be an officer carrying the weight of a traumatic call, a critical incident, anxiety, depression, guilt, grief, or struggles they have never shared with anyone. Many officers become experts at helping others while struggling to ask for help themselves. For years after my critical incident I put everyone else first and didnt take care of my poor mental and physical health.
Changing this mindset starts with removing the stigma surrounding mental health. Being honest about struggling does not make an officer weak, it makes them human. A police officer’s greatest strength is not pretending they are unaffected; it is having the courage to recognize when they need support.
The next time an officer says, “I’m fine,” take a moment to look deeper. Ask again. Listen. Support them. Sometimes the person who spends their life protecting others needs someone to remind them that they deserve protection and support too.
By Stop The Threat - Stop The Stigma Founder and Wisconsin Police Captain Adam Meyers, CPS - www.stopthethreatstopthestigma.org
