Structural challenges in the search for mental health services among military police officers: an integrative review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4131

Keywords:

Police, Mental Health, Mental Health Assistance, Stress Psychological, Occupational Health

Abstract

Highlights

  • This study presents an integrative review of the factors that most influence the search for, provision, and use of mental health services by military police officers.
  • The main results suggest that social stigma, lack of knowledge on the subject and organizational deficiencies are crucial aspects that hinder the search for psychological well-being services within the police environment.
  • The review includes 23 articles highlighting that family support and professional development are linked to the search for psychological help among military police officers.
  • Further research is needed to evaluate mental health programs, understand the difficulties in implementing these services, and promote the search for psychological help to improve police officers' health and population safety.

Introduction: Military police officers daily face stressful and potentially traumatic situations, resulting in a high prevalence of occupational stress and mental comorbidities within this group. Despite this, the pursuit of mental health services by these professionals encounters structural challenges that are still insufficiently discussed.  Objective:  To determine the factors that most influence the search for, provision of, and utilization of mental health services by police officers through an integrative literature review. Materials and Methods: The search for articles was conducted using the following databases: Virtual Health Library (VHL), MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase. After the selection process, 23 articles were included for analysis in this review. Results: The main findings indicate that social stigma, lack of knowledge on the subject, and organizational deficiencies are critical aspects that hinder the pursuit of psychological well-being services in the police field. Discussion: Despite the many barriers to police officers seeking mental health care, it was highlighted that family support and professional development are positively related to help-seeking behavior. Conclusion: Further research is needed to evaluate mental health programs and better understand the difficulties in implementing these services. Promoting the search for psychological help is essential to improving police officers' health and population's safety.

How to cite this article: De Melo, Lara Gardênia Bezerra; Lima, Diana Lívia de Sales; Fernandes, Heronildo Almeida Luna; Silva, Ysabele Yngrydh Valente; Fonseca, Alvaro Micael Duarte; Do Nascimento, Ellany Gurgel Cosme. Desafios estruturais na busca por serviços de saúde mental entre policiais militares: Uma revisão integrativa. Revista Cuidarte. 2025;16(1):e4131.  https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4131

Author Biographies

  • Lara Gardênia Bezerra de Melo, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, Brazil.

    Medicine student at the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN). Participates as an extension student in the Physiopathology and Anatomy of Public Health Diseases in Schools (FAASPE) and Nutri Mais Vida projects. She is a member of the Academic League of Diabetes and Arterial Hypertension (LADHA). She also works as a monitor for the Morphofunctional Module I-Anatomy course.

  • Diana Lívia de Sales Lima, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, Brazil.

    Student of the Medicine course at the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN). She was a monitor for the Morphofunctional Module I discipline during two academic semesters, 2022.1 and 2022.2, with an emphasis on Anatomy. In the period between 2022 and 2023, she was a researcher with a scholarship from the Institutional Program for Scientific Initiation Scholarships (PIBIC) promoted by UERN and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) with the research project "Organ Donation: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Health Professionals", already completed. Currently, she is a volunteer researcher at PIBIC with the project "Occupational Stress Profile of Military Police Officers of Mossoró-RN", whose field research is ongoing. She was a member of the Academic League of Diabetes and Arterial Hypertension (LADHA); She is currently a member of the Academic League of Morphophysiology and Neuroscience of Vision (LAMNVI). She participated as an extension worker in the Support Group for People with Parkinson's Disease (GAIPP); She is an extension worker for the Olhar Infantil Project, linked to the Dean of Extension of UERN (PROEX).

  • Heronildo Almeida Luna Fernandes, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, BraZil.

    Student of the Medicine course (Bach.) at the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN). He was a monitor for the Morphofunctional Module I - Histology discipline (2022.1) and the Medical Genetics discipline (2022.2 and 2023.1), he participated in the Research Project "Organ donation: knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals", he was an extensionist for the Group of Interactive Support for Parkinson's Patients (GAIPP) and member of the Academic League of Diabetes and Arterial Hypertension (LADHA). He is currently a volunteer researcher at PIBIC with the project "Profile of Occupational Stress of Military Police of Mossoró-RN", he is an extension worker for the Olhar Infantil Project, linked to the Dean of Extension of UERN (PROEX), and is a member of the Academic League of Morphophysiology and Neuroscience of Vision (LAMNVI), the Norteriograndense Cardiology League (LINORC) and the Academic League of Infectious Diseases (LAIN).

  • Ysabele Yngrydh Valente Silva, State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, Brazil.

    State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, Brazil.

  • Alvaro Micael Duarte Fonseca, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, Brazil.

    Psychologist. Master in Health and Society from the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), with training in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Professor of Psychology at the Maurício de Nassau University Center (Uninassau) and works as a Psychologist at the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS) - Upanema/RN. He works as a psychologist at the Center for Psychosocial Care for Children and Adolescents (CAPSi) and Tutor of the Health with Agent Project at the Support Foundation of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (FAURGS) (2022-2023). Studying a Specialization in Specialized Educational Assistance at the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA). Interest in the areas of research relating to Social Psychology, Homeless Population, Public Health and the Process of Loss and Grief.

  • Ellany Gurgel Cosme do Nascimento, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, Brazil.

    She has a degree in Nursing from the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN) and a PhD in Health Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (2015). Specialist in epidemiology, family health, obstetrics, health self-management and pedagogical training in nursing. Throughout her professional career, she worked in primary health care, family health, health management, and teaching in technical and higher education in health. Furthermore, she played the role of research advisor at the Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies at UERN, was coordinator of PPGSS / UERN and permanent professor at PPGCTI / UFERSA. Currently, she holds the position of Adjunct Professor IV on the Undergraduate Medicine Course at UERN, is a permanent professor at PPGSS and PROFSAUDE, and serves as Vice-Rector of Research and Postgraduate Studies at UERN. Areas of interest for research include women's health, human reproduction, gender, chronic and infectious diseases.

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2025-03-27

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1.
Bezerra de Melo LG, Lima DL de S, Fernandes HAL, Silva YYV, Fonseca AMD, Nascimento EGC do. Structural challenges in the search for mental health services among military police officers: an integrative review. Revista Cuidarte [Internet]. 2025 Mar. 27 [cited 2025 Apr. 7];16(1). Available from: https://revistas.udes.edu.co/cuidarte/article/view/4131

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Vol. 16 No. 1 (2025): Enero-Abril

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