COBB COUNTY, Ga. — As law enforcement officers nationwide struggle with stress and burnout, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department is taking a unique approach to helping deputies deal with the issue.
Walking the floor of the Cobb County Jail, Deputy Jarrod Roberts has encountered inmates with mental health issues, creating situations that have weighed on his mental health.
“Sometimes they lash out,” Roberts said. “People see it on my face and say, just take a break. You have to limit your interactions with the inmates when you’re feeling stressed out that day.”
Sheriff Owens is aware that the stress can follow his deputies home and back to work again.
“A lot of these men and women are making life and death decisions,” Owens said. “They’re seeing things you would never want anybody to see.”
Now, there’s a place to escape the stress.
The Cobb County jail now has a dedicated room where employees can find soft lighting, comfort, and peace. The Relaxation Room is a place to decompress and let go.
Captain Yamana Holt designed the room as a sanctuary. Now, she’s encouraging her co-workers to use it, knowing it will be difficult for some to acknowledge their struggle.
“It is the number one killer for people in our profession,” Holt said. “We need to bring awareness to that. There is no need for us to shy away from it. We want to make sure we address it.”
Stress has taken its toll.
According to the non-profit Blue Help, 99 law enforcement officers in the U.S. have taken their own lives this year. That’s down from the 239 suicides in 2019.
The Relaxation Room is part of the Cobb Sheriff’s Department’s Wellness Program and includes state-certified counselors and spiritual support from local chaplains.
”You’re talking about extreme PTSD,” said Sheriff Owens. “And it’s day after day after day.”
There are people at the Cobb County Jail and now a place designed to relieve stress before it becomes too much.