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Is suicide higher among separated/retired police officers? An epidemiological investigation.

Violanti JM; Charles LE; Andrew ME; Gu JK; Fekedulegn D; Burchfiel CM

Int J Emerg Mental Health 2011 Oct; 13(4):221-228

http://www.omicsonline.com/open-access/health-disparities-in-police-officers-comparisons-to-the-us-general-populations.pdf

20041197

It is often assumed that separated or retired officers are at increased risk for suicide. The goal of this study was to compare police suicide rates between currently working and separated/retired officers. A 55-year retrospective mortality police cohort was utilized consisting of 3,228 officers who worked between January 1, 1950 and December 31, 2005. Poisson regression and survival analysis were used for comparisons. Adjusted for age and years of service, suicide rates were 8.4 (95% CI = 3.8-18.7) times higher in working officers vs. separated/retired officers (110.5 vs. 13.1 per 100,000 person-years respectively). Survival time to suicide was significantly lower (p<0.0001) for current working officers, suggesting suicide in a significantly shorter time span. Previous research indicates that the majority of suicides in working officers occur in the five years just prior to retirement eligibility, suggesting a period of decision anxiety. Results suggest a higher risk of suicide among working compared to separated/retired officers. However, the need for suicide prevention efforts remains important among both active and retired police officers.

Humans; Men; Women; Law-enforcement-workers; Stress; Age-groups; Police-officers; Epidemiology; Statistical-analysis; Emergency-responders; Author Keywords: police; suicide; retirees; suicide rates; survival time; Statistical-analysis

20111001

Journal Article

violanti@buffalo.edu

Grant; Contract

2012

Grant-Number-R01-OH-009640; Contract-200-2003-01580

4

1522-4821

HELD

Public Safety

International Journal of Emergency Mental Health

NY; WV

State University of New York at Buffalo