Law Enforcement Suicide: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention

1. Law Enforcement Suicide: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Elizabeth K. White, Ph.D.

2. Law Enforcement Suicide: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention • Introduction to Suicide • Prevention • Intervention • Postvention • In Conclusion

3. Law Enforcement Suicide: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Introduction to Suicide

4. Law Enforcement Suicide: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Introduction to Suicide • Suicide in General • Law Enforcement Suicide • Suicide and Sexual Orientation

5. Introduction to Suicide Suicide in General • One suicide every 16.7 minutes • 11th ranking cause of death in USA • ~787,000 annual attempts • 31,484 completed suicides in 2003 • Each suicide significantly impacts six other people!

6. Introduction to Suicide Law Enforcement Suicide Is Law Enforcement Suicide an “Epidemic”or a Terrible Tragedy?

7. Introduction to Suicide Confounding Variables Law Enforcement Suicide • Sworn peace officers • Custody officers • Reserve officers? • Parole officers? • Retired officers? • Security officers? Who is a member of law enforcement?

8. Introduction to Suicide Law Enforcement Suicide Law Enforcement Suicide Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) sent out a survey to 14,000 agencies regarding surviving family members of peace officers who had committed suicide 4 RESPONDED!

9. Introduction to Suicide Confounding Variables Law Enforcement Suicide Violanti, 1996

10. Introduction to Suicide Law Enforcement Suicide • Aamodt & Stalknaker (2001) – 18.1 / 100,000 • Loo (2003) – 22.99 / 100,000 • Compion (2001) – 18.1 / 100,000 Estimated Law Enforcement Rates

11. Introduction to Suicide Law Enforcement Suicide Suicide Rate Comparison? CDC WISQARS Data 2003

12. Introduction to Suicide Suicide Rate Comparison Law Enforcement Suicide

13. Introduction to Suicide Military Suicide Rates 1990-2004 Law Enforcement Suicide

14. Introduction to Suicide Law Enforcement Suicide

15. Introduction to Suicide Law Enforcement Suicide “A peace officer is twice as likely to die by his or her own hand than by the hand of a suspect!”

16. Introduction to Suicide Suicide/Homicide Ratio Law Enforcement Suicide 3.6:1 1.8:1 CDC WISQARS Data 2003

17. Introduction to Suicide Confounding Variables Law Enforcement Suicide Having a firearm in the home increases your risk for suicide five fold! Roggenbaum & Lazear, 2003

18. Introduction to Suicide Confounding Variables Law Enforcement Suicide Firearm suicide attempts result in death in approximately 85% of cases.

19. Introduction to Suicide Confounding Variables Law Enforcement Suicide

20. Introduction to Suicide Confounding Variables Law Enforcement Suicide The risk of suicide in alcoholics is 50-70% higher than the general population.

21. Introduction to Suicide Confounding Variables Law Enforcement Suicide

22. Introduction to Suicide Confounding Variables Law Enforcement Suicide CDC WISQARS Data 2003

23. Introduction to Suicide Confounding Variables Law Enforcement Suicide Gaska, 1980

24. Introduction to Suicide Suicide & Sexual Orientation • Research Difficulties • Youth Studies • Adult Studies

25. Introduction to Suicide Research Difficulties Suicide and Sexual Orientation • Are you GLBTI? • After the Fact • Attempts vs. Completions • Compared to What? • Is it Because I am GLBTI?

26. Introduction to Suicide Youth Suicide Attempts Suicide and Sexual Orientation Attempts:Completion ratio estimated at 100:1 Male:Female Attempt ratio estimated at 1:3

27. Introduction to Suicide Suicide Completions Suicide and Sexual Orientation

28. Introduction to Suicide GLB Youth Suicide Suicide and Sexual Orientation • Serious Attempt Robin et al 2003

29. Introduction to Suicide GLB Youth Suicide Attempts Suicide and Sexual Orientation Youth 9-14%

30. Introduction to Suicide GLB Youth Suicide Suicide and Sexual Orientation Remafedi, et al 1991

31. Introduction to Suicide Adult Suicide Attempts Suicide and Sexual Orientation Attempts:Completion ratio estimated at 25:1

32. Introduction to Suicide Special Populations Suicide and Sexual Orientation

33. Law Enforcement Suicide: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Prevention

34. Law Enforcement Suicide: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Prevention • Designing a Prevention Program • Obtaining “Buy In”

35. Prevention Designing a Prevention Program • Screening • Education • Tracking “at risk” personnel • Critical incident intervention • Resources/Referral

36. Prevention Screening Designing a Prevention Program • Pre-employment Psychological Screening • High Risk Assignment Screening • Special Weapons • Undercover • Arson/Explosives

37. Prevention Preventative Education Designing a Prevention Program • Academy • Supervisors • Field Training Officers • AOT

38. Prevention Tracking “At Risk” Personnel Designing a Prevention Program • Divorced/Separated • Bereaved • Injured/Ill • Under Investigation • Substance Use Problem • Approaching Retirement

39. Prevention Critical Incident Intervention Designing a Prevention Program • Officer Involved Shootings • Serious Threat to Life • Secondary Traumatization Incidents

40. Prevention Available Resources Designing a Prevention Program • Law Enforcement Mental Health Professionals (MHP) • Peer Support Program • Chaplains’ Program • Self-Help Programs • Peace Officer’s Fellowship

41. Prevention Referral Systems Designing a Prevention Program • Supervisor Referrals • Settlement Agreements

42. Prevention Obtaining “Buy In” • “Top Down” backing • Saturation outreach • Making it stick

43. Prevention “Top Down” Backing Obtaining “Buy In” • Backing of upper managers - Initial materials cost - Training time coverage - Non-punitive/help orientation • “Personal touch” roll out to middle managers

44. Prevention “Saturation” Outreach Obtaining “Buy In” • Preview presentation/training to peer support personnel & chaplains • Availability of materials through computer as well as briefing/training • Incorporation of video into all existing trainings - where appropriate

45. Prevention Making it Stick Obtaining “Buy In” • Easy to understand • Easy to remember • Remove impediments

49. Prevention Obtaining “Buy In” “Rolling Backup”

50. Law Enforcement Suicide: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Intervention