police officer suicide: nsw police force. 1999 to 2005

Stephen Barron, PsychLaw Conference - 2007.

Police Officer Suicide:Police Officer Suicide:NSW Police Force.NSW Police Force.

1999 to 20051999 to 2005

Stephen W. BarronStephen W. Barron


Research Goals:Research Goals:

To investigate suicide by NSW Police To investigate suicide by NSW Police Officers using a Psychological Officers using a Psychological Autopsy Protocol.Autopsy Protocol.

Identify the key psychological, social Identify the key psychological, social and occupational factors associated and occupational factors associated with police officer suicide.with police officer suicide.


SUICIDE: A MULTI-FACTORIAL EVENT

Neurobiology

Severe MedicalIllness

Impulsiveness

Access To Weapons

Hopelessness

Life Stressors

Family History

SuicidalBehavior

Personality Disorder/Traits

Psychiatric IllnessCo-morbidity

Psychodynamics/Psychological Vulnerability

Substance Use/Abuse

Suicide


PSYCHOSOCIAL SITUATION:LIFE STRESSORS

Recent severe, stressful life events associated with suicide in vulnerable individuals (Moscicki 1997).

Stressors include interpersonal loss or conflict, economic problems, legal problems, and moving (Brent et al 1993b, Lesage et al 1994, Rich et al 1998a, Moscicki 1997).

High risk stressor: humiliating events, e.g., financial ruin associated with scandal, being arrested or being fired (Hirschfeld and Davidson 1988) – can lead to impulsive suicide.

Identify stressor in context of personality strength, vulnerabilities, illness, and support system.

All studies are reviews


PROTECTIVE FACTORS

Children in the home, except among those with postpartum psychosis

Pregnancy

Deterrent religious beliefs

Life satisfaction

Reality testing ability

Positive coping skills

Positive social support

Positive therapeutic relationship


The Psychological Autopsy The Psychological Autopsy protocol.protocol.

An investigative technique where the An investigative technique where the aim is to gather enough information aim is to gather enough information about the circumstances of a persons about the circumstances of a persons death (suicide) to gain an death (suicide) to gain an understanding of the reasons for that understanding of the reasons for that death (suicide),death (suicide),

Hawton et al Hawton et al (1998)(1998)


Psychological AutopsyPsychological Autopsy

Method is speculative, probabilistic Method is speculative, probabilistic and results in a professional opinion and results in a professional opinion regarding the causes and events regarding the causes and events which may have contributed to the which may have contributed to the decision to suicide.decision to suicide.

Present protocol was adapted from Present protocol was adapted from De Leo & Evans (2002) study of De Leo & Evans (2002) study of suicide in Qld.suicide in Qld.


Methodology/DataMethodology/Data

Comprehensive review of all deaths Comprehensive review of all deaths reported to the NSW Coroner of Police reported to the NSW Coroner of Police Officers – 1999 to May 2005.Officers – 1999 to May 2005.

Mortality rate of serving police officers Mortality rate of serving police officers was 190 deaths (NSW Police HR data) was 190 deaths (NSW Police HR data) within the sampled years, withwithin the sampled years, with

103 deaths reported to the NSW 103 deaths reported to the NSW Coroner.Coroner.


NSW Police MortalityNSW Police Mortality

Heart Disease – 10 deaths,Heart Disease – 10 deaths, Accidents – 8 deaths,Accidents – 8 deaths, Motor Vehicle collisions – 11 deaths,Motor Vehicle collisions – 11 deaths, Homicide – 8 deaths,Homicide – 8 deaths, Alcohol related abuse – 2 deaths,Alcohol related abuse – 2 deaths, Suicide – 35 deaths, Suicide – 35 deaths, Other causes – 25 deaths,Other causes – 25 deaths, Unknown causes – 4 deaths.Unknown causes – 4 deaths.


NSW Police Mortality cont’dNSW Police Mortality cont’d

9 deaths of police officers whilst on 9 deaths of police officers whilst on duty:duty: 4 traveling in police vehicles,4 traveling in police vehicles, 3 firearm related wounds, and 3 firearm related wounds, and 2 officers stabbed.2 officers stabbed.

Overall: 4.7% of all deaths are on duty,Overall: 4.7% of all deaths are on duty, Suicide rate accounts for 18% of all NSW Suicide rate accounts for 18% of all NSW

police officer deaths.police officer deaths.


Suicide Rate comparison.Suicide Rate comparison.

NSW (2005) – suicide rate 11.5 per NSW (2005) – suicide rate 11.5 per 100,000 (gen. pop’n.)100,000 (gen. pop’n.)

NSW Police (2005) – suicide rate of 20.7 NSW Police (2005) – suicide rate of 20.7 per 100,000.per 100,000.

U.S. best ‘guestimate’ – 18 per 100,000U.S. best ‘guestimate’ – 18 per 100,000(Aamodt & Werlick, 1999)(Aamodt & Werlick, 1999)


Suicide Frequency (1999-2005)Suicide Frequency (1999-2005)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005

deaths


Demographic Data.Demographic Data.

Males – 32:Males – 32: Females – 2Females – 2 Mean age: 35 years,Mean age: 35 years, Marital status:Marital status:

Married: Married: 40%40% Single: Single: 31.5%31.5% De facto:De facto: 11.5%11.5% Separated:Separated: 14%14% Divorced:Divorced: 3%3%


Demographic data cont’d.Demographic data cont’d.

Religious affiliation:Religious affiliation: Catholic – 74%Catholic – 74% Anglican, Church of England – 17%Anglican, Church of England – 17%

(1995 study of police recruits – 35% C of E (1995 study of police recruits – 35% C of E and 36% Roman Catholic).and 36% Roman Catholic).


Demographic data cont’d.Demographic data cont’d.

Location – 47% at home: 20% at a Location – 47% at home: 20% at a police station,police station,

Years of service – 34% with less than Years of service – 34% with less than 12 months service (average), and 12 months service (average), and 51% with less then 10 years of years 51% with less then 10 years of years of service,of service,

57 % of officers committed suicide 57 % of officers committed suicide had children.had children.


Occupational Stressors.Occupational Stressors.

Performance/adjustment issues – 31%,Performance/adjustment issues – 31%, Problematic work relationships – 17%,Problematic work relationships – 17%, Under investigation – 22% Under investigation – 22%

(underestimate: since internal (underestimate: since internal complaint figures were not available),complaint figures were not available),

Work related trauma – 8.5%.Work related trauma – 8.5%.


Method of Suicide.Method of Suicide.

Hanging - Hanging - 17%,17%,

Firearm - Firearm - 43%,43%,

Drug overdose - Drug overdose - 14%,14%,

Motor Vehicle exhaust - Motor Vehicle exhaust - 9%,9%,

Other - Other - 17%.17%.


Suicide Communication.Suicide Communication.

Overall: 43% communicated suicide Overall: 43% communicated suicide intent with other persons, including intent with other persons, including family, friends and work colleagues.family, friends and work colleagues.

38% of officers who committed 38% of officers who committed suicide left a suicide note.suicide left a suicide note.


Contact with Medical Practitioners Contact with Medical Practitioners prior to death.prior to death.

Visited their G.P’s within 1 day – 3 Visited their G.P’s within 1 day – 3 months prior to death – 34%,months prior to death – 34%,

Visited mental health professional Visited mental health professional within 12 months of their death – 40%,within 12 months of their death – 40%,

Taking medications at time of death – Taking medications at time of death – 40% (anti-depressants most common).40% (anti-depressants most common).


Presence of Mental Illness at time Presence of Mental Illness at time of death.of death.

Overall: 77% of deceased officers Overall: 77% of deceased officers indicated some evidence of mental indicated some evidence of mental illness,illness,

Of these:Of these: Depressive Disorders – Depressive Disorders – 31.5%,31.5%, Personality Disorders – Personality Disorders – 14%,14%, Anxiety - Anxiety - 14%,14%, Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia - 6%,6%,

No indications - No indications - 23%.23%.


Other Results.Other Results.

Acute events – 40% of deaths,Acute events – 40% of deaths, Binge or heavy alcohol use – 30%,Binge or heavy alcohol use – 30%, Smokers – 66%,Smokers – 66%, Referred by NSW Police for intervention – Referred by NSW Police for intervention –

51.5%,51.5%, Presence of negative life events – 63%,Presence of negative life events – 63%, Presence of trigger event – 20%,Presence of trigger event – 20%, Relationship b’down within 12 months – Relationship b’down within 12 months –

60%.60%.


Officer Suicide Risk Profile.Officer Suicide Risk Profile.

Characteristics:Characteristics: Personal - male, about 35 years of age, Personal - male, about 35 years of age,

married, catholic, residing at home with married, catholic, residing at home with spouse/partner and children, smoker.spouse/partner and children, smoker.

Social – moderate to heavy drinker, affected by Social – moderate to heavy drinker, affected by alcohol at death, access to firearm, alcohol at death, access to firearm, communicated intention to family or work communicated intention to family or work colleague, relationship breakdown within 12 colleague, relationship breakdown within 12 months and increased negative life events months and increased negative life events within 3 months of death.within 3 months of death.


Risk Profile cont’d.Risk Profile cont’d.

Characteristics Cont’d:Characteristics Cont’d: Occupational – less than 10 years of service, Occupational – less than 10 years of service,

currently under investigation for work related currently under investigation for work related incident or performance issue, referred for incident or performance issue, referred for workplace support/assessment, whose work related workplace support/assessment, whose work related problems are known by colleagues and/or problems are known by colleagues and/or managers.managers.

Psychological – recent history of mental illness Psychological – recent history of mental illness (usually depression), taking prescribed medication, (usually depression), taking prescribed medication, no previous history or suicide, no previous attempts, no previous history or suicide, no previous attempts, visited medical practitioner 3 months prior to death.visited medical practitioner 3 months prior to death.


‘‘Healthy Worker’ bias effect.Healthy Worker’ bias effect.(Carpenter, 1987).(Carpenter, 1987).

Form of positive selection bias Form of positive selection bias regarded as occupational protective regarded as occupational protective factors re suicide risk:factors re suicide risk: Pre-recruitment and selection screening, Pre-recruitment and selection screening,

including multi-level selection processes,including multi-level selection processes, Cohesiveness of the organisation,Cohesiveness of the organisation, Medical and mental illness support,Medical and mental illness support, Perceived meaningfulness of employment.Perceived meaningfulness of employment. (Violanti, 1996; Hourani et al, 1999; Miller, (Violanti, 1996; Hourani et al, 1999; Miller,

2000; Agerbo, 2005).2000; Agerbo, 2005).


Issue.Issue.

When we consider the ‘Healthy Worker’ When we consider the ‘Healthy Worker’ effect, excluding the unemployed, effect, excluding the unemployed, mentally ill, elderly, young and adolescent mentally ill, elderly, young and adolescent risk takers, drug and alcohol abusers, risk takers, drug and alcohol abusers, people with no access to support:-people with no access to support:-

For police we might then expect a lower For police we might then expect a lower than general population average for than general population average for suicide – or does the availability of suicide – or does the availability of firearms explain the difference?firearms explain the difference?


Questions?Questions?

Contact:Contact:

[email protected]@csu.edu.au

police officer suicide: nsw police force. 1999 to 2005

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