Long-Term Effects of a Comprehensive Police Suicide Prevention Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Criminology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• A previous study reported a decrease in police suicides 12 years after a prevention program.
• This study aimed to assess if these suicide reductions were maintained over an additional decade.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the long-term sustainability of suicide rate decreases in police officers following a prevention program.
• To compare suicide rates in Montreal police with other police forces in Quebec over a 22-year period.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of coroners' investigations of police deaths in Montreal and Quebec from 2009 to 2018.
• Comparison of suicide rates before and after the implementation of a police suicide prevention program over 22 years.

Main Results:

• Montreal police suicide rates showed a sustained decrease over 22 years post-program, significantly lower than pre-program rates.
• While Montreal rates slightly increased in the most recent decade, they remained lower than other Quebec police rates.
• Suicide rates for other Quebec police forces did not show significant changes over the same 22-year period.

Conclusions:

• The observed decrease in police suicides following the prevention program was sustained for at least 22 years.
• The findings suggest a link between the comprehensive, context-tailored suicide prevention program and sustained reductions in law enforcement suicides.
• Continued implementation of such programs may offer long-term benefits for police well-being.