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Slide 2 Slide 3 Slide 4 PhD and researcher Beverly Anderson said, In some ways, a cops work may be even more traumatic than that of a soldier sent into a war zone. The police officers job, over many years, exposes and re-exposes them to traumatic events that would make anybody recoil in horror. Slide 5 Our work is an emotional experience. It builds on the past, which never goes away. The job hates its self. --Officer with PTSD Slide 6 Slide 7 Slide 8 Two Forms of Trauma CriticalCumulative Slide 9 THE MACK TRUCKS Slide 10 THE BUMBLEBEES Slide 11 The dark things Slide 12 Slide 13 Slide 14 The Mistakes The Betrayals The Shames Slide 15 Slide 16 CANADA Gen. Pop. 15/100,000 Police = 65,000 Police suicides 2007: 15 Police rate 1416/100,000 UNITED STATES Police = 850,000 Police suicides in 2009: 143 Police rate 17/100,000 Gen. pop. 11/100,000 Slide 17 HEROIC: brave fearless gallant gritty intrepid valiant ANTONYM: cowardly timid Slide 18 The personal fable (Elkind) Unique, beyond harm, esp. psychologically. We learn to close off feelings. Part of the job. If pierced, armor is shattered with long-term consequences. Slide 19 IN THE CULTURE Selfish Angry Weakling Cowardly A disgrace + Suicidal = Crazy Slide 20 The cruel words we inflict Slide 21 Alcohol abuse Drug abuse Depression Anxiety Nightmares Anger issues Isolation Other maladaptive behaviors Slide 22 than from the guns of criminals....more officers die from their own guns Slide 23 Police Suicides 8% involve serious charges against officers 80 % are a surprise Retirees are 10 times more likely to kill themselves. Slide 24 Some of us go our entire career Slide 25 and when we retire, somethings wrong. We may never find out what it is. Retirees are ten times more likely to kill themselves. (Violanti). Slide 26 CANADA Gen. Pop. 15/100,000 Police = 65,000 Police suicides est. 15-20 Police rate 1416/100,000 UNITED STATES Gen. pop. 11/100,000 Police = 850,000 Police suicides est. 138 Police rate 17/100,000 2007 Statistics Slide 27 POLICE SUICIDE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF 2008 U.S. NATIONAL DATA 2008 141 2009 144 (O'Hara/Violanti, NSOPS, 2009) Slide 28 How many suicides doesnt matter. We have police suicides. But its not just about police suicides. Slide 29 Were going to deal with trauma BEFORE it becomes a crisis! Slide 30 Its about emotional well-being before you get into a crisis! Slide 31 The typical suicide prevention program. Slide 32 For every police suicide there are hundreds more out there, still working the streets and suffering. Slide 33 What CAN we do? Slide 34 Its not just about suicide. Slide 35 The Other Half of the formula Slide 36 Slide 37 Preparing officers emotionally BEFORE crisis happens! Slide 38 Peer Support Involvement Academy/Police College Selection of Field Training Officers In-Service Training Annual Re-fresher training Pre-Retirement Training Slide 39 Cradle to the Grave Eliminating Brinksmanship Annual Mental Health Checks Self-defined Resiliency Slide 40 ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH CHECKS ARE LIKE Getting your batting grip checked Slide 41 Mental Health Checks are about Voluntary Choices Resilience The Looking Glass Slide 42 Choices Slide 43 We dont ask you to agree. We ask you to think. About tracking suicides. That PTSD can be deadly (yes). That its not just about suicide. That our family is a dysfunctional one. A need to De-stigmatize. About NEW WAYS of doing things! Slide 44 operational stress injury RCMP Statistics on PTSD Partial/Full Disability 1999-2000 10 2007-2008 162 Slide 45 IN THE CULTURE Selfish Angry Weakling Cowardly A disgrace + Suicidal = Crazy Slide 46 Sick leave Lawsuits Grievances Citizen Complaints Substance Abuse Injuries Vehicle Accidents Violence Divorces Suicides The Benefits and Consequences Slide 47 A healthy, even happy police career is possible if we do our part! Slide 48 Nonprofit Educational and Research Free Slide 49 Emotional Self-Care (ESC Programs Slide 50 www.BadgeOfLife.com