In this episode of the CATO podcast, we connect with Stephanie Samuels, a police psychologist and founder of CopLine, a national suicide hotline for law enforcement. We'll explore Samuels' research related to first responders and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Samuels and many others believe that TBI is often misdiagnosed as PTSD, but is instead a major contributor to PTSD symptoms. She is part of a group that is researching the first responder community to better understand the effects of TBI and PTSD. CopLine is the only completely anonymous suicide hotline for police officers that is staffed by fellow law enforcement.  

CopLine wants to aid in reducing the stigma associated with asking for help. They believe (as CATO does), that it is imperative for police officers to have a safe place to talk about anything occurring in their life. For more information about CopLine, please visit www.copline.org. Whether you or someone you know is having a "bad day" or a full-blown mental health crisis, CopLine is here with the motto "Cops Understand Cops".

Call the hotline: 1-800-COPLINE or 1-800-267-5463.