Why Are Police Officers Dying by Suicide?

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• Why Are Police Officers Dying by Suicide?
• What Can Be Done?
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

Why Are Police Officers Dying by Suicide?

Why four New York police officers died by suicide in just one month this year (June 2019)¹ is a bit of a mystery. So is the fact that the city of Chicago has seen seven of its police officers die by suicide between 2018 and 2019¹. Nationwide, 167 officers and 169 officers died by suicide in 2018 and 2017, respectively².

While suicide lacks definitive answers, some clues provide insight into police officer suicides.

• Law enforcement involves constant, high-intensity stress.
• Police officers are frequently exposed to trauma and are at greater risk than the general population of developing PTSD³.
• Stigma prevents these officers from seeking help.

Stigma—negative, judgmental attitudes and behaviors—can cause shame, humiliation and anxiety over the loss of active duty status. Accordingly, many police officers suffer in silence.

What Can Be Done?

NYPD commissioner James O’Neill1 considers these suicides a mental health crisis. To that end, he, along with the Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance (POPPA), is seeking to

• Destigmatize depression and PTSD
• Encourage officers to reach out and to check in with each other
• Promote the use of peer-to-peer counseling programs

That more police officers die by suicide each year than are killed in the line of duty2 is tragic. That the NYPD and departments across the country are working toward a solution is an important step in reducing suicide rates among police officers.

Note: Safe, stigma-free access to help is important for everyone. If you feel hopeless and are considering harming yourself, contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or suicidepreventionlifeline. org.

Sources

1. Ortiz, E. (2019). Fourth NYPD Officer Suicide in 3 Weeks a Reminder of ‘Combustible’ Situation. NBC News. Retrieved July 2019 from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fourth-nypd-officer-suicide-3-weeks-reminder-combustible-situation-n1024686
2. 167 American Police Officers Died by Suicide in 2018. (2018). Blue H.E.L.P. Retrieved July7 2019 from https://bluehelp.org/158-american-police-officers-died-by-suicide-in-2018/
3. What is posttraumatic stress disorder? (2008). officer.com. Retrieved July 2019 from https://www.officer.com/tactical/article/10248615/what-is-posttraumatic-stress-disorder

Related Articles Dealing with Stigma, Suicide

• Seeking Help for Suicidal Thoughts When Facing Stigma
• Let’s Talk About Suicide and Save Lives
• Standing Up to Mental Health Stigma Stories
• How Can We Reduce the Stigma of PTSD?
• Take an Online PTSD Test

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: What role has stigma played in your ability to seek mental health help? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• How to Deal With Uncomfortable, Awkward Encounters
• Self-Acceptance in Recovery When You Can’t Muster Self-Love
• What Does a PTSD Flashback as a Body Memory Feel Like?
• I Have Borderline Personality Disorder Not Bipolar
• Setting Boundaries in Relationships Saves Your Mental Health
• Is Social Media Making Your Anxiety Worse?
• When to Give Up on Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
• Talking About My Sex Addiction: Four Surprising Reactions
• Interoception: Poor Internal Sensations and Eating Disorders
• The Arts Revealed Positive Aspects of My Mental Illness
• Giving In to Negative Thoughts Helps You Overcome Them
• You Can Schedule Away Your Anxiety. Here's How to Do It
• Is Your Job Causing Your Depression?
• What Not to Say to Someone With Low Self-Esteem
• Is It Possible to Know All of My Alters?
• Radical Acceptance Can Change Your Life
• Vacationing When You Have Borderline Personality Disorder
• How Your Inner GPS Falls Victim to Verbal Abuse
• How to Rebuild Your Relationship with Sex After Trauma
• How to Ask for Help on Bad Mental Health Days

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. Coping with a Bipolar Depressive Episode
2. It's Hard to Forgive Yourself When You Have Depression
3. Accessing ADHD Medication: Legal Barriers Can Make It Difficult

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once. Breathe. You’re strong. You got this. Take it day by day."

Read more anxiety quotes.

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