Suicide and the Police (From Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention, P 7-15, 2003, Dell P. Hackett, and John M. Violanti, eds., -- See NCJ-199787)

• NCJ Number: 199788
• Author(s): Dell P. Hackett
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter discusses suicide prevention strategies for police officers.

Abstract

There is an increased risk for suicide within the law enforcement profession. More law enforcement officers take their own lives each year than are killed by felons or die in other duty-related accidents. There are many stresses in the profession that can lead to suicidal thinking. Police officers view themselves as rugged individuals. They routinely deal with problems of others but often deny or bury their own. Officers that are experiencing psychological problems are viewed within the police culture as weak. It is often the case that the department will not recognize there is a problem until the officer’s situation reaches crisis proportion. One suicide prevention strategy is the law enforcement first-line supervisor monitoring subordinates for signs of distress that could lead to suicide. Because most suicide victims give clues regarding their intentions to kill themselves, supervisors should be trained in the verbal, behavioral, coded, and situational clues of those contemplating suicide. Another form of prevention is a peer support program. Peer support and counseling is a process whereby officers that feel a need to communicate their feelings about the job, their home life, or other stresses may do so with other officers that are trained to assist. The peer counselor’s mission is to provide a confidential outlet and then decide whether further referral to a mental health professional is necessary. The entire police agency is emotionally and negatively impacted when a suicide occurs within its ranks. A police suicide prevention model includes training on police suicide statistics, those affected by suicide, the motivation of a suicide, common myths regarding suicide, verbal and behavioral clues of suicide, and major predictors of suicidal behavior. Intervention tactics include remaining calm, never sounding shocked, and asking the right questions, such as have you been thinking of hurting or killing yourself. 8 references