Tipton County Constable's Office
Tipton County, Tennessee
Officer Suicide
PLEASE NOTE: If you are in crisis now, and need someone to talk to immediately, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). They provide confidential assistance and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.
Law enforcement is impacted by:
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Critical incident stress — Reactions to traumatic incidents they are involved in that have a tendency to overwhelm their normal coping mechanisms. Unchecked, the lack of ability to cope well manifests itself in the symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
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Chronic stress — The cumulative effects of both critical incident stress as well as just the so-called “normal” stressors associated with police work. Officers tend to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms over the years that often lead to further trauma.
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Stress-related illnesses — Heart disease, high blood pressure, intestinal disorders, substance abuse, insomnia, and many other illnesses that are directly attributable to unresolved issues related to stress and the unhealthy ways in which the individual has tried to cope.
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Anxiety and depression — There is a huge stigma associated with police officers seeking mental health assistance. Fearing they will be declared unfit for duty, their symptoms grow worse until they believe there is no hope remaining. According to the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, approximately 90 percent of individuals who die by suicide have untreated mental illness, and individuals with serious mental illness die by suicide at rates 6 to 12 times higher than the general population.
(Excerpt from Police1.com, 2016)
If you are an officer who needs help to cope with issues in your life and career, or if you are a family member or friend of an officer who wants to know what you can do to help, I want you to know that free, confidential stress coaching is available to you if you will send a private message to 901-297-1513.
Other Confidential Resources (via Facebook):
Resources
Implementing Peer Support Services in Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agencies - Peer support can be an important part of an officer wellness strategy. Employees may feel more comfortable initially seeking support from a peer who understands the context and has experienced the same stressors. This guide, Planning and Implementing Peer Support Services in Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agencies, provides a roadmap for small and rural law enforcement agencies implementing or enhancing peer support services...
September is National Suicide Awareness Month (resources)
Suicide awareness and student resources from St. Petersburg College.
A Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention Toolkit was developed and distributed to all Florida law enforcement agencies in October of 2007. This Toolkit was designed with input from many law enforcement officers, deputies, and troopers, as well as subject-matter experts to help you present suicide prevention training within your department, reduce the stigma associated with seeking help, and to encourage your officers to roll backup for each other.
Communication in Law Enforcement Families - FREE ONLINE TRAINING
This free course is to encourage communication between family members and the family member who works in law enforcement. Sometimes adding a mental health professional into that communication can lead to successful solutions that does not negatively affect the family or the law enforcement officer’s job....
Building Police Officer Psychological Capital to Mitigate Stress
Law enforcement officers honor the pivotal role they have in preserving law and order in the communities they serve, but policing is one of the most stressful occupations in the United States and around the world...
Mindfulness and Officer Health, Job Performance, and Well-Being
Police work involves extreme stress. Researchers have identified two types...
Mental Health: Officer Wellness
The Department of Justice released two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers...
Law Enforcer Calls to Helpline are Spiking
The founder of CopLine says calls are up 74% compared to last year...
Chicago Launches ‘Early Intervention’ System to Identify Troubled Cops
A computerized “early intervention” system will help identify cops in urgent need of mental health counseling, under a new program launched Tuesday by the Chicago Police Department...
Law Enforcement Suicides: Protect Ourselves, Protect Each Other
This article has been published in the Florida Sheriff’s Association All Points Bulletin Fall 2018.
Law Enforcement Suicides: Protect Ourselves, Protect Each Other
This article has been published in the Florida Sheriff’s Association All Points Bulletin Fall 2018.
CloseUp: Police suicide rocks law enforcement community
Officials are asking for more resources, training and community involvement. Advertisement. Recommended. VIDEO: Propane explosion caught on ...
LAPD Leadership Making Suicide Prevention a Priority
Until recently The Los Angeles Police Department had a record streak going. No officer died by suicide for over two years. Before 2017 they the ...
NYPD will mine data on all cops in effort to prevent suicides
The move is part of a number of things the department is doing to address officer wellness in the wake of multiple LEO suicides.
Other Links:
Rolling Backup - LA County Sheriff's Department Training Video
John Violanti, Ph.D. - books, articles and publications
Dell Hackett - books, articles and publications