NCJ Number
46455
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 18-21
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND ITS POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP TO POLICE SUICIDE RATES ARE DISCUSSED, AND SUICIDE RATES FOR OFFICERS IN THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE INFLUENTIAL FACTORS.
Abstract
A NUMBER OF STUDIES HAVE FOUND POLICE WORK TO INVOLVE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS RELATED TO ORGANIZATIONAL AND ROLE PRESSURES ON POLICE OFFICERS. TO DATE FIVE STUDIES EXAMINING THE SUICIDE RATES AMONG POLICE HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN. SUICIDE RATES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH FOR NEW YORK AND WYOMING POLICE OFFICERS, EXCEPTIONALLY LOW FOR DENVER AND LONDON, AND INTERMEDIATE FOR OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS. OVER A 7-YEAR PERIOD (1970-1976) SUICIDE RATES FOR LOS ANGELES POLICE AVERAGED 8.1 PER 100,000 WITH CONSIDERABLE VARIATION AMONG YEARS. COMPARED WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUICIDE RATES (I.E, 15.3 PER 100,000 IN 1973) AND NATIONAL RATES (I.E., 12.6 PER 100,000 IN 1975) THESE RATES ARE RELATIVELY LOW. WHILE THE REASONS FOR THIS LOW RATE OF SUICIDE ARE COMPLEX, A NUMBER OF FACTORS MAY HAVE AIDED IN MITIGATING POLICE SUICIDES IN LOS ANGELES. THESE INCLUDE THE INSTITUTION OF RIGOROUS PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND SCREENING, A DIFFICULT AND EXTENSIVE POLICE TRAINING PROGRAM, AND A MORE PROGRESSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD AND AVAILABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE SERVICES SECTION OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PREVENTION. INITIAL TRAINING AND INSERVICE TRAINING DEALING WITH SUCH TOPICS AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE AVAILABILITY, OCCUPATIONAL STRESS FACTORS AND THEIR RECOGNITION, APPLICATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES IN THE FIELD, AND BRIEF CRISIS INTERVENTION ARE OFFERED. IN ADDITION, FREE COUNSELING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES. FINALLY, THE SERVICES SECTION OFFERS A VARIETY OF COPING WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS. (JAP)