SUICIDE PREVENTION

For Police, Fire, EMS , Dispatchers and all First Responders

Identify common risk factors or warning signs that indicate someone has serious life problems or may

be thinking about suicide.

Identify protective factors that may reduce the risk of suicide.

Learn an easy to remember method of suicide intervention

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At the hands of bad guys

In accidents, including car crashes

By heart attacks

By their own hand

Inherent dangers of police work such as the risk of homicide or

accidents overshadow the psychological danger of this occupation…..

Don’t go it aloneSeek Help

“Suicide is a conscious act of self-annihilation brought about by multi-dimensional

malaise”

Edwin Schniedman

“The Forever Decision”Suicide is an attempt to solve a problem of intense

emotional pain with impaired problem-solving skills.2

Individuals of all races, creeds, incomes, and educational levels die by suicide. There is no typical suicide victim.3

Crisis thinking colors problem solving:

Kalafat, J. & Underwood, M. Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention. Lifelines: A School-Based YouthSuicide Prevention Initiative. Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. http://spts.pldm.com/

Person is often ambivalent:

Suicidal solution has an irrational component:

Suicide is a form of communication:

Kalafat, J. & Underwood, M. Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention. Lifelines: A School-Based YouthSuicide Prevention Initiative. Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. http://spts.pldm.com/

REASONS FOR POLICE SUICIDE

LEGAL TROUBLE – 15%MURDER-SUICIDE – 10%RELATIONSHIPS – 32%STRESS – 11%CRITICAL INCIDENT – 6%ILLNESS – 3%FINANICAL - 7%PSYCHOLOGICAL – 12%ALCOHOL – 4%

•Depression•Relationship conflicts or personal losses

•Easy access to firearms•Drug and alcohol abuse•Financial difficulty•Internal investigations

Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Risk and Protective Factors for Suicide. http://www.sprc.org/library/srisk.pdf

Clinical Depression

Personally Significant Loss

Drug or Alcohol Abuse

Previous Suicide Attempts

A Marked Negative Change in Behavior

Recent Study on PTSD and Suicide Ideation:

PTSD due to witnessing the homicide of another officer

INCREASES RISK OF SUICIDE THINKING - 2 1/2 times

PTSD due to witnessing death, devastation (e.g. 911), abused children

INCREASES THE RISK OF SUICIDE THINKING - OVER 3 Times

PTSD coupled with alcohol use

INCREASES THE RISK OF SUICIDE THINKING NEARLY 10 TIMES

Violanti, SLTB, 2004

Reason for living; Suicide is not an option:

Suicide unacceptable:

Clayton, J. Suicide Prevention: Saving Lives One Community at a Time. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. http://www.afsp.org/files/Misc_//standardizedpresentation.ppt

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• Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death for all ages in 2010• There were 38,364 suicides in 2010 in the United States--an average of 105 each day• Based on data about suicides in 16 National Violent Death Reporting System states in 2009, 33.3% of suicide decedents tested positive for alcohol, 23% for antidepressants, and 20.8% for opiates, including heroin and prescription pain killers.• Suicide results in an estimated $34.6 billion in combined medical and work loss costs.

www.cdc.gov/injury/wisquars/index.html 10/2010

More Missourians die by suicide than by DWI, homicide, or AIDS.

Missouri’s rate of suicide is 14.4/100,000

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in Missouri Men accout for 79% of completed suicides; women 21%

The leading methods of suicide in Missouri are firearms (56%) Suffocation (21%) poisoning (18%)

http://dmh.mo.gov/docs/mentalillness/suicideplan.pdf

The suicide rate for police officers is 17/100,000, compared to the general population's rate of 11/100,000.

The Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention. 2008 Annual Report.http://www.helppromotehope.com/documents/Annual_Report.pdf

Question the meaning of suicidal communication.

Persuade the person to get help. Refer to competent counseling.

Don’t hesitate to raise the subject. Be direct, but non-confrontational. Engage them:

• Are you thinking about suicide?• What thoughts or plans do you have?• Are you thinking about harming yourself,

ending your life?• How long have you been thinking about

suicide?• Have you thought about how you would do it?• Do you have _____ (Insert means, weapon, etc.)• Do you really want to die, or do you want the

pain to go away?Clayton, J. Suicide Prevention: Saving Lives One Community at a Time. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. http://www.afsp.org/files/Misc_//standardizedpresentation.ppt

Listen to the problem with your full attention.

Remember, suicide is not the problem, only the solution to a perceived insoluble problem.

Do not rush judgment. Offer hope in any form.

“Will you go with me to get help?”

“Will you let me get you help?”

Your willingness to listen and helpcan rekindle hope

and make all the difference!!

Suicidal people sometimes feel they can’t be helped so you may have to do more.

The best course is getting a commitment from them to accept help, and then making arrangements for that help.

Do not leave the person alone Know referral resources Reassure the person Encourage the person to participate in the helping

process Encourage the suicidal person to identify other

people in their lives who can also help. Outline a safety plan:

Make arrangements for the helper to come to you OR take the person directly to the source of help


Do you have a therapist/doctor?

Are you seeing him/her?

Are you taking your medications?


But suicide isn’t the only problem

For every officer who commits suicide…there are a thousand more who continueworking, suffering from trauma and pain.

Confide in a Friend Confide in the Department Chaplain Confide in your Clergy Contact the Department EAP (Employee Assistance Program) Contact a Counselor

Sources: Badge of Life, Law Enforcement Wellness Association Inc.By special permission: portions of power point lessons – on PTSD by Dr. Marc Unger Summit Bible College Bakersfield CA+IN HARMS WAY and the Department of Justice

SUICIDE PREVENTION

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