Law Enforcement Officer Suicide Awareness Day
By JoAnna Randisi
Did you know that each year more Law Enforcement Officers die by suicide than in the line of duty?
In 2020, Blue H.E.L.P created National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day which takes place on September 26th annually. This day is intended to facilitate conversations around Law Enforcement Officer’s Mental Health and to provide support for those who are struggling (Blue H.E.L.P, 2023).
Due to the nature of their profession, Law Enforcement Officers witness tragedies on a higher than average basis compared to a civilian (Kiani, 2022). This puts them at a greater risk of developing depression and/ or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which are precursors to suicide (Kiani, 2022). In addition, the civil unrest that has occurred in the US over the past 3 years has caused police officers to have to deal with low morale, shortages of employees and grief associated with Covid-19 (IACP, 2023).
Similarly to Military Personnel, Law Enforcement Officers have more access to weapons, more specifically, firearms, than civilians (Ford, 2023). One study found that a majority of the suicides that take place for Law Enforcement Officers happen in their own homes utilizing their on duty firearm (Ford, 2023). It has been found that those who use firearms to attempt suicide have an 82% fatality rate compared to those who attempt suicide without a firearm (Ford, 2023).
What are the warning signs?
According to the National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Final Report, in addition to struggling with mental health, things like social isolation, exposure to trauma, chronic disease and disability are other risk factors for suicide among our uniformed officers (IACP, 2023). Those who are exposed to conflict and danger on a regular basis are at higher risk for developing depression, PTSD and/or suicidal thoughts.
Law Enforcement Officers have similar warning signs to our armed soldiers. You can read more about Military Personnel Suicide Awarness here (include link to Military Personnel Blog post) for more information on warning signs for Suicide Prevention.
How do we prevent Law Enforcement Officer suicide?
Structural changes across all police departments are necessary. The National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Final Report stated that there has been an increase of prevention trainings targeting management of emotional distress, coping skills and suicide awareness (IACP, 2023).
It should be noted that larger departments, where there is an increase of mental health and peer support programs, have a significantly lower rate of suicide (Ford, 2023). Interpersonal relationships help to give support, prevent social isolation, and increase the likelihood of an Officer reaching out for help.
Other changes that The National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Final Report highlights is that in many States, PTSD is now included as an eligible diagnosis to qualify for short and long term disability benefits and there are mental health wellness checks that will be conducted annually (IACP, 2023). In addition, the Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support (COPS) Counseling Act is a federal law that was passed in 2021 that protects Law Enforcement Officers privacy when it comes to information shared between an Officer and a Peer Support Worker (Grassley, 2021). The only exception to this is if an individual has committed a criminal act or if there is any threat of serious physical harm (Grassley, 2021).
What are the Treatment Options?
In addition to the peer support programs and mental health wellness checks that are being implemented across law enforcement departments, seeking out therapy is beneficial to overall mental wellness. Psychotherapy encompasses a variety of therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that focuses on our Cognitions (thoughts) and how they influence our behaviors, feelings and physiological responses. CBT can be utilized with clients who suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD and more. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a form of therapy that is specific to working with individuals who have experienced trauma. EMDR consists of a client moving their eyes a certain way as they talk about and process traumatic events they experienced.
If you or a loved one are struggling with thoughts of suicide please reach out for help using one of the hotline numbers below:
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988
24 hour CopLine Hotline: 1-800-267-5463
We are always here for you. Please contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our team to begin working on your own self-care plan. Or sign up for one of our group programs.
Resources
Blue H.E.L.P. (2023, February 15). National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day. Blue H.E.L.P. https://bluehelp.org/national-law-enforcement-suicide-awareness-day/
Ford, A. (2023, February 28). Police officer suicide and suicide prevention. Police Officer Suicide and Suicide Prevention | Danielle Rousseau. https://sites.bu.edu/daniellerousseau/2023/02/28/police-officer-suicide-and-suicide-prevention/
Grassley, C. (2021, November 18). Law enforcement mental health services bill signed into law: U.S. senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Chuck Grassley . https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/law-enforcement-mental-health-services-bill-signed-into-law#:~:text=Modeled%20after%20state%20confidentiality%20laws,threats%20of%20serious%20physical%20harm.
IACP. (2023). National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Final Report. The IACP. https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2023%20Report%20and%20Recommendations.pdf
Kiani, T. (2022, June 30). National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day. National Today. https://nationaltoday.com/national-law-enforcement-suicide-awareness-day/
United States Department of Justice. (2023, May). Department of Justice Report on Best Practices to Address Law Enforcement Officer Wellness . U.S Department of Justice . https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-05/Sec.%204%28a%29%20-Report%20on%20Best%20Practices%20to%20Advance%20Officer%20Wellness_FINAL.pdf
