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The Badge of Life Police Mental Health Program Police Suicide Statistics for 2011
Police Officers died as the result of gunfire in 2011: 65
Police Officers died as the result of suicide in 2011: 147
Police officers (est.) in US with symptoms of PTSD: 135,000
For every police suicide, almost 1,000 officers continue to work while suffering the painful symptoms of PTSD.
OUR MISSION The Badge of Life Police Mental Health organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, noncommercial group. All our services and instructional materials are free. The Badge of Life mission is to increase awareness of police stress, trauma and suicide issues and reduce them by providing training, police peer support and educational programs that enhance the emotional well-being of police officers in the United States and Canada. We promote programs to protect and assist survivors of law enforcement suicide and honor all officers who have given their lives in the line of duty. BOL honors and supports the forgotten police retirees who carry the burden of emotional scars of their careers. Our Emotional Self-Care program is valuable not only for police, but for fire, rescue and EMS personnel.
For those who have been there, no explanation is necessary…
For those who have not, no explanation is possible….
WWII Veteran
NEW: POLICE KILLINGS AND MENTAL HEALTH, A CONNECTION?
During 2011, 164 police officers died in the line of duty. Of these, 65 died from gunshot, 47 in vehicle accidents, seven were struck by other vehicles, and 13 died from vehicular assaults. Did emotional health play a role in any of these deaths? How many officers did we lose because they "lost their edge?" We may never know, but how important is it that an officer KEEP that mental and emotional "edge" to survive a gunfight or avoid a high speed accident? Today's officer safety programs focus on firepower, accuracy, "tactical breathing" and taking "multiple hits," but is street survival another good reason to have proactive mental health programs in our departments? Read this intriguing article, POLICE KILLINGS AND MENTAL HEALTH.
WHAT IS THE BADGE OF LIFE PROGRAM? The Badge of Life Police Mental Health program is is more than suicide prevention--it's about officer safety and long life -- and hope that we can improve the emotional well-being of police officers so they can begin to go through careers 20 and 30 years long without killed on the streets or devastated by the toxic, horrific work they do. Saying, "Get help when you need it" isn't enough. We need to say, "Get help BEFORE you need it."
For every police suicide, almost 1,000 officers continue to work while suffering the painful symptoms of PTSD! Think about it. This is the most toxic career field you could have picked. You're exposed to horror and trauma continually for years and decades. Tough as you may think you are, it'll begin to affect you--if not by a critical incident, then cumulatively. If you care about your physical health, you'll see a dentist and doctor regularly, not because something is wrong but to prevent something from going wrong. Why shouldn't you do the same for your emotional health? Real prevention is the key. It's not waiting until you're in crisis. It's preparing you for trouble before you get into crisis. Like seeing the doctor or the dentist once a year, it's getting you in to a therapist, chaplain or counselor of your choice, voluntarily, confidentially (even pick your own therapist), to review the past year, look for vulnerabilities, build on your strengths, and develop a set of tools (and resources) you can turn to when you are finally confronted by stress or a traumatic experience. Simple as that. Common sense in your peer support program. Second, the dollar savings from a healthier department are countless--read about it in our Emotional Self-Care program (ESC). We customize the program to the needs of your department--our training is free and we adapt it to the way YOU want to best use it. Call us for the details. It's free, it's easy--and it works.
Contact Badge of Life to see how you can make a difference in your department! Visit our Resource Page for our free videos and training materials.
 "The Badge of Life's “Emotional Self-Care Training” program is a necessary component of police work. Experiencing daily contact with violent, perverse and cruel people takes a toll on a police officer’s heart and mind and has a toxic effect on the soul. Officers need a program that allows them to unload the venom that has slowly seeped into their brains. The consequences of doing nothing are shocking and heartbreaking, not just for the officers who had many years of life ahead of them, but for the families who must suffer the loss and confusion of losing a loved one to suicide. An officer who commits suicide dies once, but the spouses, partners and children grieve and weep every day for the rest of their lives. It is a small concession for officers to do a voluntary annual mental health check. It will prevent a lifetime of misery for those left behind, and give officers a greater quality of life and a positive outlook for the future."
Allen R. Kates, author of “CopShock, Second Edition: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)”.
We are about to send out our February Badge of Life Monthly Newsletter If you would like a copy/subscribe, just let Ron Clark know at badgeoflife@gmail.com Get the scoop on the latest efforts to remove the stigma of police PTSD and mental health, as well as the latest research and commentary on police suicides.
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The Badge of Life is an IRS Approved 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization and all donations are tax deductible. All services and materials provided by the Badge of Life are free of charge. The entire content of this website is copyrighted. All photographs are copyrighted to the photographers noted. For permissions on the written content of this website, contact us at Badge of Life. HOME | ABOUT US | SUICIDES | PROGRAMS | FAQS | | RESOURCES | LINKS CONTACT ___________________________________________________
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