The San Antonio Police Department is taking a bold leap forward in the realm of first responder mental health, with the implementation of the Wellness Unit, a team dedicated to shoring up the psychological defenses of its own. This move by SAPD rides in tandem with their nationally lauded Mental Health Unit, cementing the department's commitment to mental wellbeing on all fronts.

SAPD's proactive approach to prevent a dark trend in suicide among officers and retirees has led to the formation of this specialized squad. With a troublesome spike marked by eight suicides from February 2021 to October 2022, the Wellness Unit, although in its infancy, has been cited as a life-saving force within the law enforcement community, "Our job is responding to people’s worse day,” Sergeant Tina Baron, leader of the unit, told KENS 5.

Baron, alongside seven wellness officers, spearheads the initiative to offer critical incident support and facilitate a culture where discussing the high-stress nature of police work is normalized. Officer Gabriel Mendoza, a member of the unit, reiterated the psychological toll, especially from cases involving children or officer-involved shootings, "It’s been pretty tough," he said in a statement obtained by KENS 5. In 2023 alone, the department responded to 27 officer-involved shootings, with 7 already recorded in early 2024, underscoring the unit's critical importance.

Parallel to the Wellness Unit, the SAPD's Mental Health Unit has been a beacon for mental health response since 2008, working closely with local fire department and authorities to triage and connect residents to necessary mental health support, with a comprehensive approach incorporating everything from crisis interventions to citizen education. Winning the Baptist Health Foundation’s 2017 Spirit of Health Award Affirms, the unit's high standing in professional circles, SAPD has outlined on their website.

With over 70 peer support officers now onboard, SAPD's Wellness Unit is on a clear trajectory to strengthen the mental health framework for San Antonio's finest. As Sergeant Baron and Officer Mendoza contend, this concerted effort not merely sustains morale but also, quite literally, saves lives. It reflects a growing recognition of the immense mental and emotional demands that are part and parcel of law enforcement work. SAPD's pioneering move to institutionalize mental health resources signals a long, albeit necessary, fight to destigmatize mental health care among those who serve and protect.