A new mental health initiative is underway at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. The program, Always Ready for the Road Ahead, was developed by Marcy Verduin, associate dean of students and professor of psychiatry at UCF. The initiative aims to address the higher risk of suicide faced by law enforcement officers compared to deaths in the line of duty.
Verduin created the two-part guidance program for all 3,000 employees—both sworn and civilian—of the sheriff’s office. “The employees of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office work in challenging environments, even risking their lives, in order to make our community safe,” Verduin said. “This is a way of giving back to them as a thank you for the incredible work they do and helping them be more prepared to face the challenges inherent in their day-to-day work.”
The collaboration began after recent incidents involving officer suicides prompted concern within the department. In response, participation in Verduin’s program has been made mandatory for all personnel, including Sheriff John Mina.
“We want to be proactive,” said Major Reginald Hosey, who leads human resources for the sheriff’s office and established the partnership. “We want to be at our best at home, in the field, as a friend, as a spouse, as a parent.”
The program builds on an earlier effort led by Rev. Keith Tower of HighPoint Church in Orlando during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing increased mental health concerns among religious leaders and congregants at that time, Tower organized a conference focused on emotional impacts related to COVID-19. Afterward, Verduin and Tower received invitations from groups around the world to speak about mental health awareness and stigma reduction.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office learned about their work and requested a version tailored specifically for law enforcement needs—a program that has now been active for approximately six months.
During sessions with sheriff’s staff—including deputies and civilian employees—Tower shares personal experiences dealing with stress from his background as both a former professional basketball player and pastor. His story illustrates how high-pressure environments can affect even those with significant training.
“I have made so many free throws in my life, I could make them in my sleep,” Tower says. “But the environment changed, the scene changed, the consequences changed. And that changed everything.”
Verduin addresses common misconceptions about mental health issues among officers: “You can’t ask your pancreas to make more insulin if you are a diabetic, as much as you can’t say ‘don’t be depressed,’” she says.
She also presents medical evidence demonstrating differences between healthy brains and those affected by depression using CAT scans. Strategies introduced during these sessions include establishing boundaries and practicing gratitude while encouraging participants to adopt small steps toward resilience.
Sheriff Mina highlighted his support: “There is nothing more important to me than the physical and emotional well-being of our Orange County Sheriff’s Office family,” he says. “Through our partnership with the UCF School of Medicine, the Always Ready for the Road Ahead program has provided invaluable training and tools to our personnel so that they can be resilient and prepared, both personally and professionally.”
