Departmental Barriers to Mental Health Treatment: A Precursor to Police Officer Suicide (From Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention, P 54-65, 2003, Dell P. Hackett, and John M. Violanti, eds., -- See NCJ-199787)

• NCJ Number: 199790
• Author(s): Dickson Diamond
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter discusses depression and departmental barriers to mental health treatment for law enforcement officers.

Abstract

The concept that situational events and life stressors are responsible for a police officer’s suicide is not true. Traumatic experiences, such as those endured by many law enforcement officers, do not cause an officer to commit suicide. Clinical depression is what is responsible for most suicides. Of the 6.4 percent of the general population affected by clinical depression, 6 percent will go on to commit suicide. Clinical depression is due to changes in concentrations of chemicals in the brain that regulate mood, energy, sleep, and appetite. The symptoms include a decrease in energy or increased fatigue and a loss of the ability to partake in enjoyable activities. Lack of concentration, agitation, restlessness, and keeping to oneself are also symptoms. Officers that have depression often increase their intake of alcohol as a form of self-medication. Although job stress, drinking problems, marital discord, or financial or legal problems can affect the chemical imbalance in the brain, more often, it is the chemical imbalance that precedes these life stressors. The chemical imbalance in the brain results in such feelings of internal pain and hopelessness, that when accompanied by impairment of judgment, decision making, and impulse control, suicide is seen as an attractive option. Medications, such as antidepressants, do not mask the symptoms of depression but correct the chemical imbalance responsible for the depression. The goal for police management should be to encourage treatment of depression, not to encourage denial of the illness. By changing this emphasis, management can create a healthier police force and a decrease in the incidence of suicide among its officers. This remains a challenge because of the culture of law enforcement. None of the medications used to treat depression have any side effects that would impair an officer’s ability to perform his or her duties. The combination of depression, easy access to a weapon, and the police attitude toward mental health treatment can increase the likelihood of police suicide. 3 references