The Inaugural Howard C. Liebengood Foundation symposium: The evolving law enforcement landscape and the first responders' mental health crisis
September 30 – October 1, 2026
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center
555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
The inaugural Howard C. Liebengood Foundation Symposium: The evolving law enforcement landscape and the first responders' mental health crisis convenes law enforcement leaders, mental health and healthcare experts, researchers, and bipartisan policymakers to explore practical, evidence-informed solutions. Over two days, participants will examine the evolving policing landscape, confront the profession’s mental health crisis—including elevated rates of suicide, PTSD, depression, and anxiety—and identify strategies to strengthen resilience, crisis response, and organizational leadership.
Law enforcement is operating in one of the most demanding environments in modern history. Shifting public expectations, critical incidents, and ongoing organizational pressures have reshaped the profession, and the impact on officer health and agency stability has never been greater. Grounded in research and lived experience, the symposium focuses on translating knowledge into action.
What you’ll learn
- How today’s policing climate is reshaping occupational stress and risk
- The drivers of the mental health crisis in law enforcement and how to address it
- Effective pre- and post-crisis intervention strategies
- Organizational resilience and adaptive leadership approaches
- How leadership, policy, and labor–management collaboration improve officer wellness
Who should attend
- Law enforcement leaders, management, and labor
- Mental health and healthcare professionals
- Researchers, educators, students, and policymakers
Whether you shape policy, lead an agency, work in law enforcement, support officer wellness, or conduct research, this symposium offers timely insight and practical tools to strengthen the health of the policing profession.
This event was organized by Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and the Howard C. Liebengood Foundation.