4. PhD and researcher Beverly Anderson said, “In some ways, a cop’s work may be even more traumatic than that of a soldier sent into a war zone.” “The police officer’s job, over many years, exposes and re-exposes them to traumatic events that would make anybody recoil in horror.”

5. Our work is an emotional experience. It builds on the past, which never goes away. “The job hates it’s self.” --Officer with PTSD

8. Two Forms of Trauma CriticalCumulative

9. THE MACK TRUCKS

10. THE BUMBLEBEES

11. The dark things

14. The Mistakes The Betrayals The Shames

16. CANADA Gen. Pop. 15/100,000 Police = 65,000 Police suicides 2007: 15 Police rate 14–16/100,000 UNITED STATES Police = 850,000 Police suicides in 2009: 143 Police rate 17/100,000 Gen. pop. 11/100,000

17. HEROIC: brave fearless gallant gritty intrepid valiant ANTONYM: cowardly timid

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.

19. IN THE “CULTURE” Selfish Angry Weakling Cowardly A disgrace + Suicidal = Crazy

20. The cruel words we inflict…

21. Alcohol abuse Drug abuse Depression Anxiety Nightmares Anger issues Isolation Other maladaptive behaviors

22. than from the guns of criminals....more officers die from their own guns

23. Police Suicides 8% involve serious charges against officers 80 % are a “surprise” Retirees are 10 times more likely to kill themselves.

24. Some of us go our entire career…

25. …and when we retire, “something’s wrong.” We may never find out what “it” is. Retirees are ten times more likely to kill themselves. (Violanti).

26. CANADA Gen. Pop. 15/100,000 Police = 65,000 Police suicides est. 15-20 Police rate 14–16/100,000 UNITED STATES Gen. pop. 11/100,000 Police = 850,000 Police suicides est. 138 Police rate 17/100,000 2007 Statistics

27. POLICE SUICIDE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF 2008 U.S. NATIONAL DATA 2008 141 2009 144 (O'Hara/Violanti, NSOPS, 2009)

28. How many suicides doesn’t matter. We have police suicides. But it’s not “just” about police suicides.

29. We’re going to deal with trauma BEFORE it becomes a crisis!

30. It’s about “emotional well-being” before you get into a crisis!

31. The typical “suicide prevention program.”

32. For every police suicide …there are hundreds more out there, still working the streets and suffering.

33. What CAN we do?

34. It’s not “just” about suicide.

35. The “Other Half” of the formula

37. Preparing officers emotionally BEFORE crisis happens!

38. Peer Support Involvement Academy/Police College Selection of Field Training Officers In-Service Training Annual Re-fresher training Pre-Retirement Training

39. Cradle to the Grave Eliminating “Brinksmanship” Annual “Mental Health Checks” Self-defined Resiliency

40. ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH CHECKS ARE LIKE “Getting your batting grip checked”

41. Mental Health Checks are about Voluntary Choices Resilience The “Looking Glass”

42. Choices

43. We don’t ask you to agree. We ask you to think.  About tracking suicides.  That PTSD can be deadly (yes).  That it’s not “just” about suicide.  That our “family” is a dysfunctional one. A need to De-stigmatize.  About NEW WAYS of doing things!

44. “operational stress injury” RCMP Statistics on PTSD Partial/Full Disability 1999-2000 10 2007-2008 162

45. IN THE “CULTURE” Selfish Angry Weakling Cowardly A disgrace + Suicidal = Crazy

46.  Sick leave  Lawsuits  Grievances  Citizen Complaints  Substance Abuse  Injuries  Vehicle Accidents  Violence  Divorces  Suicides The Benefits and Consequences

47. A healthy, even happy police career is possible— if we do our part!

48. Nonprofit Educational and Research Free

49. Emotional Self-Care (ESC Programs

50. www.BadgeOfLife.com