NCJ Number: 193551
Title: Suicide Risk Assessment for Police Officers (From Suicide and Law Enforcement, P 243-255, 2001, Donald C.
Sheehan and Janet I. Warren, eds. -- See NCJ-193528)
Author(s): Thomas R. Kraft
Date Published: 2001
Page Count: 13
Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
Sale Source: US Dept of Justice
Document: PDF |PDF
Type: Instructional Material
Format: Document
Language: English
Country: United States of America
Annotation: This article provides background information and a framework for
developing a proper approach to evaluating the suicide risk
potential of police officers.
Abstract: The author first reviews the risk factors associated with police
suicide. The focus is on individual psychological characteristics
of the officer in interactions with the police subculture. The
aspects of the police subculture that aggravate suicide risk are
the "warrior" mentality, the lack of usual protective supports,
and easy access to firearms. Fear of being perceived as weak and
the consequences this perception has for career advancement
obstruct help-seeking behaviors by officers. Since a majority of
persons at risk of suicide manifest their intent prior to making
a suicide attempt, Morey (1996) advises that test instruments can
be used to identify and intervene in higher risk cases. Morey
developed a suicide ideation scale based on the Personality
Assessment Inventory; it identifies an individual who is having
intense and recurrent thoughts about suicide. Other scales that
can be used to assess suicide risk are the Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Index-2 (MMPI-2), the Adult Suicidal Ideation
Questionnaire, the Suicide Probability Scale, and the Suicide
Constellation Score on the Rorschach Test. Protective reasons for
living should be included in a suicide risk assessment. These
measures are clinical tools that may be helpful in quantifying
and adding some measure of scientific rigor to aid, but not
replace, clinical judgments. An assessment of the level of
suicidal risk posed by an officer can assist in developing an
appropriate plan of intervention, which can include individual
therapy, crisis intervention, medication, or hospitalization.
Sample risk-assessment forms are provided.
Main Term(s): Police suicide
Index Term(s): Police management; Police occupational stress; Psychological evaluation; Psychological stress evaluator; Suicide causes; Suicide prevention; Testing and measurement
Note: A paper submitted to the Suicide and Law Enforcement Conference,
FBI Academy, Quantico, VA, September 1999.
To cite this abstract, use the following link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=193551
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