Time to Protect Those Who Protect Us By Elisa Diaz, PsyD and Marisa Echenique PsyD
ore than 47,000 people in the United States commit suicide annually, making it the 10th leading cause of death for all ages. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized suicide as a public health priority. National and international resources have been allocated for research, education and awareness, and to implement suicide prevention programs. Despite these efforts, the stigma around mental health remains and is particularly evident across different occupational fields. There is a disproportionate risk of suicide—and suicide completion—among the legal, medical and law enforcement professions. According to the NIH, law enforcement officers are one-and-a-half times more likely to commit suicide than the general population; more law enforcement officers die by suicide than from being killed in the line of duty. Data from Blue H.E.L.P., a nonprofit organization that tracks law enforcement suicides, shows that reported suicides are up 24% to 114 officers in 2019 from 92 in 2018. Unfortunately, Florida has one of the highest rates of suicide among law enforcement officers in the country. In 2018, ten officers committed suicide, and that number is likely underreported. An officer’s job is to protect the public. At times, this means witnessing
M
violence and trauma, putting themselves in dangerous situations, enduring erratic work schedules, and operating in high-stress environments. Furthermore, over the past few decades, society has faced unimaginable tragedies such as school shootings and domestic terrorism. Law enforcement officers are the first line of defense against these events—it is reasonable to infer the after-effects take their toll on mental and emotional capacity. A recent study suggests that police officers who experienced a traumatic event reported a higher percentage of suicidal thoughts (27.2%) when compared to those who did not (7.7%). Leaving extreme stress, anxiety, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) undiagnosed or untreated can certainly cause an increased risk for suicide. However, due to many factors such as fear of repercussion, sense of failure, lack of insight, and stigma, mental health services tend to be underused or avoided entirely. Mental health providers are prepared to assist in these situations but when the aforementioned factors are barriers to seeking help, what other means are available? For one, commanding officers and loved ones can take an active role by speaking with officers who have recently been part of a particularly difficult situation. They can—and should—become familiar
with warning signs of an underlying mental health disorder or suicide and stay alert for any major changes in the officer’s behavior. Commanding officers, family and friends can help identify signs that a police officer is in distress and encourage the officer to reach out for support when needed. Warning signs of suicide include changes in their talk, behavior and mood. Some important examples include: l l l l l
l l l
Withdrawing from others or their surroundings drug and/or alcohol abuse change of behavior or insubordination expressing feelings of hopelessness talking about ending their life and/or making arrangements, i.e. giving away personal belongings or making a will depression threatening self and/or others excessive carrying of weapons unrelated to work
No one can ever fully understand why an individual might choose to take their own life. However, suicide may be preventable and knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can save lives. If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, there are people who want to help.
Text START to 741741 from anywhere in the USA, at any time, about any type of crisis Crisis Text Line
1.800.273.8255 (1.800.273-TALK)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1.866.488.7386
The Trevor Project
5 | BrainStorms | Q3 | 2019
