Help-Seeking and Substance Use Among Police Staff After the 2018 Strasbourg Christmas Market Attack

The use of mental health services by police staff is usually low. After the 2018 attack on the Strasbourg Christmas market, police officers exposed to psychotraumatic risks were found to have a higher PTSD risk. This study aims to describe the help-seeking and substance use by police staff after the attack.

A questionnaire was sent to 1697 police officers 3 months after the attack. The 475 respondents were classified as exposed (took action to stop the terrorists, pursued them in the city, or helped a victim) or unexposed and indirect-exposed. Counselling, treatment, alcohol and tobacco consumption, and their habitus changes were assessed. Univariable analysis was followed by multivariable analysis adjusted for gender, age, number of previous traumatic events, level of exposure, and probable PTSD or depression, using logistic regression.

Of the 475 respondents, 10% consulted a psychologist/psychiatrist, 24% a physiotherapist and 62% their general practitioner within 3 months of the assault. Initiation of new anxiolytic/antidepressant treatment (OR = 4.59 [1.11-18.91]), consultation with a psychologist/psychiatrist (OR = 5.02 [2.44-10.32]), increased alcohol or tobacco consumption (OR = 10.42 [3.45-31.43]) were associated with probable PTSD.

The use of mental health services is insufficient for the care of probable PTSD, which is associated with increased tobacco or alcohol use, encouraging further research to improve the use of mental health services among police staff.