[ OSH-Link Home
| IVI Online
| Comments ]
This study assessed the validity of official police suicide rates by examining data from an epidemiological cohort of municipal workers that included police officers. The study addressed the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive validity of police suicide rates and compared them with other municipal workers in the cohort. A sensitivity proportion formulation was suggested, which ma\y be used to assess validity of suicide rates in other police groups. An attempt was made to identify suicides in a cohort of municipal workers and police officers who worked in Buffalo for at least 5 years between 1950 and 1990. All deaths classified as suicide, accidents, poisonings, violence, external causes and undetermined were reviewed. There were 50 deaths in police officers and 89 in municipal workers in these categories. Five cases were presented where the original ruling in each case was undetermined death, and was later changed to suicide based on the evidence available; four were police officers and one was a municipal worker. The findings of this study suggested that police suicide rates as recorded were less sensitive than the rates of other workers in detecting actual suicides and had less predictive value in determining actual nonsuicides. There are no nationwide epidemiological studies on police suicide. Such research is needed, along with research in small or rural police departments. Based on their current findings, the authors suggest that given a reported suicide rate of 100 in a hypothetical police group, the expected actual rate would be 120. The authors encourage access for officers to confidential psychological services to facilitate their troubles. If such services could be attained without going through formal organizational channels, the officers would be more likely to seek help. The authors conclude that before any meaningful step can be taken to assist officers in what may be an occupational hazard, an accurate indication of the magnitude of the problem must be attained.
Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 26(1):79-85, 1996. (42 references)
You can do a search of the OSH-DB database and get a list of articles on any topic of interest on our Visitor Search Page. Access to read the articles is limited to OSH-DB subscribers.