National police suicide estimates: web surveillance study III.

The present study is the third in a series of web surveillance of police suicides (prior analyses conducted in 2008 and 2009). In this age of world web communications, a police suicide in even the smallest and most remote community is generally transmitted nationally and through police websites, forums, and blogs. 55,000 police suicide specific web articles were reviewed over the entire year 2012 data was then compared with 2008 and 2009 police suicide data. There were 141 police suicides in 2008. Suicides declined from 143 in 2009 to 126 in 2012 (an 11.9% decrease). Across the three time periods, male and female suicides appeared to occur at a similar rate, averaging 92% and 6% respectively. In 2012, (1) suicides appeared to cluster more in the 40-44 year age group more than in previous years among officers of lower rank; (2) an increase in suicide was seen among officers with 15-19 years of service; (3) gunshots remained the most prevalent means of suicide across all three years (91.5%), and (4) personal problems appeared to be prevalent (83%) with work associated legal problems ranking second (13%). Approximately 11% of suicides were military veterans. California (n = 10) and New York (n = 12) had the highest police suicide rates. Four murder-suicides were noted over the entire year. Suggestions for suicide preventive policies, improving police mental health, and future research are discussed.

The Badge of Life Psychological Survival for Police Officers Program.

Worldwide, there is no more consistently stressful job than that of the police officer. In the United States, police officers are more likely to die by suicide than by any type of criminal or criminal activity. This article discusses the Badge of Life Psychological Survival for Police Officers Program (BOL), founded in 2008, with the goal of developing an effective police officer suicide primary and secondary prevention program. Such a program is not a regular entity within the majority of accredited law enforcement agencies. Along with standard suicide prevention protocols typically used in other programs, an Emotional Self-Care Program (ESC) was designed to focus on the officer's ability and responsibility to care for his own emotional well-being. The model relies on teaching the factor of resilience as a significant component of stress-resistance (Everly, Welzant, & Jacobson, 2008). Selected for their credibility and trust level, peer support officers conduct the actual annual training workshops, set the example, and encourage involvement at all levels. A "cradle-to-the-grave" program (i.e., rookies to retirees), ESC calls upon departments to begin teaching their personnel about the effects of job-related stress and trauma while they are still in the academy, emphasizing the importance of voluntary, confidential "annual mental health checks." Representatives of BOL now lecture regularly across the United States and Canada. All consultations, lectures, educational and training workshops, services, and referrals are free, as are original training materials developed and approved by the BOL Board of Directors.

Internal affairs: current problematic issues in Critical Incident Stress Management for emergency services.

Critical Incident Stress Management is really in it's infancy as a valid crisis intervention technique. With that in mind, everyone involved--peers, mental health professionals, pastoral counselors, trainers, and academicians--must support the CISM model by knowing it thoroughly, conducting it appropriately, taking care of themselves and their fellow team members, continuing to be trained and educated, and promoting cohesive teams that thrive through their ongoing work.

Some thoughts on providing effective mental health critical care for police departments after Line-of-Duty Deaths.

There is no more stressful or emotionally painful event in the professional lives of police officers than a fellow officer's Line-of-Duty Death (LODD). In response to a LODD, crisis teams must apply Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) techniques in a systematic, organized, and responsible manner. Newly formed crisis teams are particularly vulnerable to choosing inappropriate tactics in complex situations. This article provides a strategic framework within which teams can work with police departments after a LODD. It includes cautionary information in connection with problematic situations and mistakes that can occur. Special modifications to the LODD debriefing process are recommended.

The care and feeding of critical incident stress management.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is under attack by some major academic and training institutions. Despite its acceptance internationally, CISM is viewed by some as "dangerous and damaging." The author's recent experience in a number of mental health training workshops on primary care of September 11-related dysfunction is reviewed, along with arguments in support of the CISM model of crisis intervention. A proposal for greater efforts at empirical foundations is offered.

Peer support in law enforcement: past, present, and future.

Currently, the provision of mental health services to police officers referred for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or after on-the-job trauma has been facilitated mostly by interested licensed psychologists and social workers who often have minimal experience working with the law enforcement community. Despite the heavy toll of work-related stressors on the morale and psyche of police officers, when under stress they are reluctant to seek professional psychological help as its use implies weakness, cowardice, and an inability to perform the job effectively. Peer support counseling can be used effectively whenever the target population is uniquely educated or occupationally trained. Peers offer a unique segue to groups who demonstrate resistance towards psychotherapy, possess religious or cultural characteristics which would complicate the provision of traditional mental health services, and/or believe it is not understood or misunderstood by the general population or mental health professionals. The peer support component of law enforcement and other emergency services agencies has contributed to an increase in professional mental health referrals and a decrease in on-the-job suicides, sick days, and poor work performance. Furthermore, peer participation in debriefings following a traumatic event, and peer support during a crisis facilitates the process of psychological closure and mourning and enables emergency services workers to cope more effectively with tragedy so they can continue to perform their jobs efficiently and with satisfaction.

Observations from Ground Zero at the World Trade Center in New York City, Part II: Theoretical and clinical considerations.

Part I of this series discussed our observations of Ground Zero of the World Trade Center (WTC) immediately after the attack on September 11, 2001, as well as the stress-response of police officers on site. This paper offers a variety of clinical techniques for emergency mental health practitioners and first responders for use with victims of critical incidents. The suggested interventions are based on the theory and clinical practice of Emergency Medical Hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and Ericksonian Psychotherapy. Specific examples of how they were applied with police personnel following the World Trade Center attack are provided along with specific clinical guidelines. These interventions are designed to augment and enhance standard CISM, mental health, and medical practice in the field.