Justin A. Hinkley

Lansing State Journal

LANSING - More than a third of corrections officers in state prisons likely suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, a new study has found, and now the state is partnering with its officers to address the problem.

About 34% of officers in state prisons and at the state's Center for Forensic Psychiatry — the state facility for criminal defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity — met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a recent study commissioned by the Michigan Corrections Organization, the officers' union.

Also, 36% of officers met the criteria for a depressive disorder, and a quarter of officers met the criteria for both PTSD and depression. About 5% of officers tested as high-risk for suicide, the study found. The problems were more pronounced among those in high-security facilities and longtime officers. Gender and prior military experience made no difference in the findings.

In response, the MCO and the Michigan Department of Corrections are partnering with Desert Waters Correctional Outreach, the Florence, Colo.-based nonprofit that conducted the study, to seek a federal grant to further study the issue and launch wellness training for staff.

"Our employees are the greatest asset we have ... and their mental health and well-being are of the utmost importance," Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington said in a joint statement with the union. "Our hope is this scientific study will serve as a guide that will lead us to the most effective training and best practices possible to help our officers better handle the stresses they face at work and that we know they carry with them once they leave the prison walls."

"We've established that suffering from PTSD and depression symptoms is very real for our members," MCO President Tom Tylutki said in the statement. "I’m pleased that MCO, MDOC, and Desert Waters aren’t just resting on that fact. We’re quickly moving forward to hopefully help staff recognize symptoms and take action that could possibly save lives."

Desert Waters' conclusions are based on secure online surveys of 991 of the MCO's roughly 6,500 members.

PTSD is severe, long-lasting stress and anxiety related to a traumatic event, such as the fights and other violence officers see in prison. It can cause flashbacks, insomnia, confusion and more, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Contact Justin A. Hinkley at (517) 377-1195 or jhinkley@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter@JustinHinkley. Sign up for his email newsletter, SoM Weekly, at on.lsj.com/somsignup.