Police Officer Suicide: Causes, Prevention, and Practical Intervention Strategies

This article outlines the facts & statistics about police officer suicide & discusses the range of possible contributory factors to officer burnout, depression, & suicide. It then describes the range of prevention strategies that police agencies can use to minimise this tragedy, including identification of risk factors, sensitivity to overt & subtle cues of officer distress, & proper utilization of counselling & referral services. The article offers practical guidelines for dealing with officers in states of impending or acute suicidal crises. Finally, the importance of suicide prevention & intervention in the context of comprehensive mental health services for all public safety workers is highlighted. (46 refs.)