Table 2.

Relevant literature related to psychological health and wellbeing of police officers during disasters.

Author (Year)	(Health) Emergency	Findings
Adams et al. [18]	Hurricane	Explores the coping strategies and methods that first responders adopt to foster resilience during a crisis and recommends communication strategies that allow police officers to maintain contact with co-workers and families.
Bakker et al. [19]	Training exercises	Studies the importance of social support for rescue workers from co-workers and leaders and recommends that preventing training be offered to first responders to create a buffer between their exposure to critical incidents and their mental health.
Berger et al. [20]	Multiple	Presents a review of the literature on the prevalence of PTSD on rescue workers, including police officers.
Biggs et al. [21]	Flooding	Examines the impact of exposure to acute extra-organisational stressors on work-related individual and organisational outcomes in police officers and stresses the importance of work culture support and organisational support for ensuring employee wellbeing.
Boscarino [22]	Multiple	Presents a review of articles included in a special issue on the impacts of different disasters and emergencies on affected communities and police officers.
Guilaran et al. [23]	Multiple	Presents a review of the literature on the psychological outcomes in first responders and the effects of social support, recommending further research on the different forms and sources of social support available to first responders.
Haugen et al. [24]	Multiple	Presents a review of the literature on the effects of PTSD on first responders, recommending further research on the exposure to stress after treatment – or re-exposures and new exposures – that can complicate PTSD treatment and interventions.
Heavey et al. [25]	Hurricane	Examines the use of alcohol by police officers involved in the Hurricane Katrina response, finding significant association between heavy involvement in disaster relief and alcohol abuse, and recommends targeted interventions for police officers involved in disasters to overcome the stress experienced.
Jenkins [26]	Hurricane	Examines the impact of social support and coping strategies on first responders during Hurricane Andrew.
Kerswell et al. [27]	Flooding	Analyses the mental health outcomes in the Queensland Police Service in the aftermath of flooding incidents and finds that some of the officers showed higher levels of general distress and PTSD and that civilian staff reported significantly higher distress and PTSD than police officers.
Klimley et al. [28]	Multiple	Presents a review of the literature on the prevalence of PTSD among emergency dispatchers, including police officers and firefighters.
Kowalski [29]	Multiple	Explores the role of police leadership – including supervisors – on supporting frontline officers exposed to traumatic events with recommendations for police leaders and organisations.
Leppma et al. [30]	Hurricane	Investigates the development of posttraumatic growth among police officers working in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and finds that gratitude, satisfaction with life, and social support can moderate the relationship between trauma exposure and posttraumatic growth.
Mao et al. [31]	Multiple	Presents a review of the literature on the psychological problems facing rescue workers in the aftermath of a disaster deployment and recommends interventions for mitigating psychological consequences and fostering resilience.
Martin et al. [32]	Multiple	Finds that social support offered by colleagues to police officers affected by disasters can be a significant protective factor from PTSD and distress and offers recommendations for screening and training.
McCanlies et al. [33]	Hurricane	Examines the association between resilience, life satisfaction, posttraumatic growth, and symptoms of PTSD in police officers, and finds that resilience, life satisfaction and gratitude may help mitigate the symptoms of PTSD.
Osofsky et al. [34]	Hurricane	Finds that first responders had significant levels of PTSD, depression, alcohol use and partner conflict in the aftermath of a disaster and recommends providing not just mental health services for first responders but also designing adequate plans before disasters strike.
Regehr et al. [35]	Multiple	Presents a review of the literature on mental health symptoms in police officers in the aftermath of their exposure to traumatic events and finds that other rescue workers had higher levels of PTSD than police officers, perhaps due to their training.
Smith et al. [36]	Hurricane	Studies the effects of critical incident stress debriefings in a police department in South Carolina and finds these to help alleviate symptoms of PTSD among police officers.
Snell et al. [37]	Earthquake	Analyses the coping measures adopted by police officers in New Zealand in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes and how resources losses and gains can shape officers' abilities to adjust and cope during and in the aftermath of disasters.
Stephens et al. [38]	Multiple	Finds that lower social support from peers and supervisors after traumatic exposures can lead to a higher likelihood of developing PTSD symptoms.
Stephens and Long [39]	Multiple	Highlights the importance of positive communication between police officers, supervisors, and peers for buffering symptoms of stress and trauma in police officers.
van der Velden et [40]	Earthquake	Studies the effects of the Haiti earthquake on first responders and finds that good team functioning, recognition and job satisfaction may prevent PTSD symptoms among police officers.
West et al. [41]	Hurricane	Studies the relationship between work-related stress and personal factors and the onset of PTSD and depression symptoms in police officers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with recommendations for treatment, counselling, social support and other interventions.