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Linking work and domestic problems with police suicide
1Isaac Ray Center, Inc., Public Safety Program, Chicago, IL 60612.
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Police officers with marital problems or suspensions were more likely to have attempted suicide. Administrative harassment complaints were linked to a lower likelihood of suicide attempts among officers.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychiatry
- Criminology
Background:
- Police officers face unique stressors impacting mental health.
- Previous suicide attempts are a significant concern within law enforcement.
- Fitness-for-duty evaluations provide insight into officer well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors contributing to suicide attempts in police officers.
- To analyze the relationship between specific stressors and suicide attempt history.
- To inform targeted support strategies for law enforcement personnel.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 134 police officers' first fitness-for-duty evaluations.
- Logistic regression analysis to identify significant predictors of suicide attempts.
- Examination of factors including marital status, disciplinary actions, and administrative complaints.
Main Results:
- 55% of officers reported a history of suicide attempts.
- Marital problems (OR=4.8) and suspensions (OR=6.7) significantly increased the likelihood of suicide attempts.
- Administrative harassment complaints were paradoxically associated with a decreased likelihood of suicide attempts.
Conclusions:
- Marital distress and disciplinary actions are critical risk factors for suicide attempts in police officers.
- The role of administrative harassment warrants further investigation.
- Findings highlight the need for tailored mental health interventions in police departments.