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FAQS ON POLICE MENTAL HEALTH
Nothing in this website is a substitute for seeking help if you need it! Seek help immediately. If your department has peer support officers, feel free to contact them for guidance, support and referral. Do NOT delay, however--suicidal ideation is a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to an emergency room--you WILL be treated with care!
You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. This is a confidential service not connected to law enforcement and available 24/7, both in the United States and Canada. You can call this number for yourself--OR you can call if it's about some you're worried about.
Q. How many police suicides are there each year? A. There are between 130 - 150 police suicides each year. For more details, read the Police Suicide Study 2008 - 2009. Two to three times as many officers commit suicide than are killed by the guns of felons (not "than die in the line of duty!"--please, at least get that one right!)
Q. What is the police suicide rate? A. For 2008 (141 police suicides nationally) the suicide rate was approximately 17/100/00. The general public was 11/100,000. Law enforcement is right behind the Army, which has a rate of 20/100,000.
Q. Is it true that "One third of police officers have PTSD and don't know it?" A. No. This came from a magazine article and was a quote from a retiree who was merely speculating. Like other urban legends, however, it has been quoted as "gospel" since. The closest any study comes to this is a study of 100 officers in one suburban department (Robinson, Sigmun, 1997) that identified 13 of the officers as having the symptoms of PTSD. Badge of Life does estimate, based on our studies, that there are, for every suicide, hundreds more officers who continue working the streets either with undiagnosed PTSD or struggling with issues related to the impacts of work-related stress and trauma.
Q. How many police suicides are work related? A. According to police chiefs, incredibly, none. According to departments across the US in 2008 and 2009, not a single police suicide was attributable to the stress and trauma of the job. It's ironic that an officer can be suicidal and be given a service disability retirement. If he pulls the trigger the day before the retirement becomes effective, however, the work relatedness is suddenly forgotten and all benefits for the family evaporate. Each year, cases occur that are clearly the result of work related PTSD, yet are ignored and blamed on the "great unknown" or, worse, on the family. Most recently, Canada's worker's compensation board was the first in north america to finally recognize the suicide of an officer, Eddie Adamson, as the result of horrific trauma on the job. Although the police department continues to dither over whether or not to recognize and honor the officer, the grounwork has been laid for proper honors to be paid these men and women who have given their lives in service.
Q. What is the "average Life Expectancy" of a police officer? A. John Violanti maintains that an average life span for police officers is 66 years, or 10.6 years after retirement, adjusted for age and gender. This is lower than the average for males in the United States (76 years of age). Caring for oneself physically and emotionally are ways one can increase the likelihood of a longer life.
Q. Someone said I should go to AA. A. Congratulations. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is just one of many "Twelve-Step" programs designed to help people with problems ranging from substance abuse to personal and relationship issues. They are not "religious." Go to AA if you're an alcoholic--you know if you are. Go to one of the others if you're not. They can help tremendously with stress, emotional issues and relationships.
Go to POLICE OFFICER FELLOWSHIP OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Look over this list for a police officer AA groups in your area. These groups are closed to officers only and, for many officers, are a "safe" place to share their struggles with alcohol and sobriety.
One of the great tragedies, however, is that so many officers that are willing to go to AA refuse to do so unless it's a LE group. We encourage you to go, even if there is not one available. There is always the possibility that you will encounter someone who recognizes you, now matter how far you travel. You must decide if your recovery is more important than your pride. Being seen in an AA meeting is far preferable to being seen during the days you were staggering around drunk in the bars or in parties.
The fellowship of AA does not tolerate "calling people out" or pointing fingers and will take care of it immediately. Occasionally, a group is not well run--try another, just as you would try another church or doctor. Veteran AA members are interested in their sobriety and helping others, not in prying into personal lives.
I always felt, in the years I attended public AA meetings, that if confronted in court, I would speak the truth--that I was a grateful recovering alcoholic. The judge would probably say, "I am too." And so would half the jury.
And one final note--the drunk you arrested was drunk. Do you truly believe he'll recognize you, unless you're bragging about your occupation (which no one cares about unless you share it)?
Q. What is the “official” definition of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Q. Is there an “easier” definition of PTSD? For an excellent overview of PTSD and the treatments, read from the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. The CDC has good information defining PTSD and discusses the "Cumulative" aspects of the disorder.
Q. Does PTSD have to be caused by one big event? A. No. It can result from one catastrophic event or from an accumulation of traumatic events over time. Contrary to popular opinion, cumulative PTSD can be deep and long lasting and prove a greater challenge to overcome than single-event PTSD. Eric Wahgren, in BusinessWeek, wrote, “In some ways, a cop's work may be even more traumatic than that of a soldier sent into a war zone, experts say. ‘The police officer's job, over many years, exposes and re-exposes them to traumatic events that would make anybody recoil in horror.’ The key phrase in the above quote is "over many years." The exposure of a combat soldier for 12 - 18 months is intense and often terrifying. The police officer, however, gets no break--he is not "rotated home" for relief. The trauma referred to continues, unabated, for 15, 20, 30 years.
Q. How does PTSD affect the family? A. "Trauma survivors with PTSD often experience problems in their intimate and family relationships or close friendships. PTSD involves symptoms that interfere with trust, emotional closeness, communication, responsible assertiveness, and effective problem solving." (Read more at the National Center for PTSD) Sadly, police agencies don't understand how PTSD can be behind relationship problems. Thus, when a suicide occurs, they blame the family.
Q. Shouldn't I pick a therapist who knows all about "cop work?" A. This is an individual decision but should not keep you from seeking help. An important thing to remember is that a good therapist treats human beings, not cops. Sadly, we have officers going without excellent help because they are adamant the only person who can possibly help them is a "cop doc." If you are experiencing problems, your priorities should be, in the following order:
HOW TO PICK A THERAPIST: Dr. Anne Bisek, Clinical Psychologist, walks the viewer through the steps of when and how to find a good therapist, the alarm signals an emergency responder should be aware of, issues of confidentiality and the types of therapy available.
Q. Should I see a psychiatrist or psychologist? A. A psychiatrist can prescribe medications, whereas a therapist and psychologist cannot. There are some clear guidelines under which you should see a psychiatrist, such as thoughts of suicide. You can find some excellent guidelines on Officer.com
Q. What about medications? A. This is a delicate question. Departments must understand that PTSD, anxiety and depression lessen your effectiveness on the road--your reaction times, your "edge," and your judgement. Proper medications can RESTORE these attributes. 1. MEDICATIONS: It has been suggested that you begin any medication when you are planning to be off for at least 36 hours (discuss this with your psychiatrist). Generally, any side effects that would effect the job will show up by that time. As a general rule, departmental policies require that officers tell them when they are taking medications when such medications affect the officer's performance negatively. (Emily Keram, MD, WCPR) If an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication does not affect the officer's performance negatively under these policies, the officer is under no obligation to report it. You don't, for example, have to tell your department that you're taking purple pills for acid reflux. Nonetheless, it doesn't hurt to be familiar with your department's policy. As of 2009, Officers' personal medical records have not been available to attorneys. The question should be limited to, "Is the officer taking anything that impairs him/her?" (No) 2. DOCUMENTATION: Insist that your doctor put in your medical file a note to the effect that you are taking the specified medications, that they are causing no impairment that will affect your job, that you are more rested and alert as a result of taking the medications, etc. Read more at http://www.policeone.com/health-fitness/articles/125249-Should-troubled-officers-take-antidepressant-medication/
A. It takes strength to admit when you need help. By gaining knowledge about signs of suicide, you can save your own and maybe a buddy's life." Don't be afraid to ask the question, "Are you thinking of killing yourself" It will not hurt and you may save a life. From the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself. Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other. Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person.
Feeling hopeless
Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities - seemingly without thinking
Feeling trapped - like there's no way out.
Withdrawing from friends, family, and society.
Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time.
Experiencing dramatic mood changes.
Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life
Bear in mind, however, the one challenge--law enforcement officers at all ranks are highly experienced in maintaining a facade. Sadly, we've trained them to be good at it. This makes the spotting of traditional signs and symptoms even more difficult and may explain a great many of the "surprise" suicides that seem to plague law enforcement today.
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