The recent suicides of designer Kate Spade and chef/author/raconteur Anthony Bourdain are a stark reminder that the rich, famous, and admired bear no immunity to the sort of emotional pain that drives so many to self-annihilation. Well-respected and successful, news of their deaths stunned fans, as these things always do, over and over, when once again we’re reminded of the frail humanness of even the larger-than-life.
The list of celebrity suicides is long, stretching back through history. A quick search of the topic is a little jarring, casting the problem of depression and the drive to permanently end the pain in sharp relief, illustrating how prevalent hopelessness must be among the countless anonymous that make up most of the world.
Most cops know this better than most; you are first to respond to completed suicides, search for and talk down those thinking of it, discern the desire and plans to die and initiate the first steps toward treatment, and do your best to comfort the shocked and horrified family and friends coming to grips with the horrible reality of suicide or suicidal ideation of a loved one. And, as cops, you are likely well-versed in the suicide rates of fellow officers, regularly reminded to take care of yourselves and each other, while tucking the knowledge in the back of your mind in order to function in the present reality of policing and all its demands and stresses.
What you may not be aware of are a couple recent statistics about suicide in the United States.
Officials from the Centers for Disease Control have published findings that suicide rates are up more than 25%, and up to 30% higher in some states, since 1999. For perspective, across such a massive population as that of the US, an uptick of a few percentage points in measurement of any behavioral trend is a big deal; an increase on this scale is stunning.
The second finding is that of “suicide contagion”, where there is a bump of around 10% in the suicide rate in the four months following a celebrity taking his or her own life.
We won’t speculate on the causes here, merely present the raw information and remind you that this both will directly impact your work as LEOs, and to remain vigilant of your own emotional wellbeing and that of your colleagues.
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Law enforcement is hard on those who practice it. The shift work, long and unpredictable hours, and working weekends and holidays can lead to isolation from family, friends and outside social supports. Poor sleeping and eating habits develop and cops are exposed to increased and repeated stress. Subtle physical changes in body and brain take place, upsetting the delicate biological balances regulating mental health. There is a growing body of research indicating the law enforcement lifestyle can be detrimental on multiple levels.
The front-row seat to multiple human dramas grinds idealism out of young officers, often replaced with cynicism. When all of these pressures (perhaps helping trigger a genetic predisposition) become too much and depression sets in there is fear associated with even mentioning that things are not going well emotionally.
A lot of police officers believe that mentioning they are depressed, burned out, or in need of professional help might lead their bosses and colleagues to question their fitness for the job. They fear losing a livelihood they love or that, even if they try to seek help in confidence, they will be discovered. These fears compound the depression. It’s no wonder so many cops hide - and hide from - their darkest feelings.
But seeking help need not be worrisome, especially when opting for early intervention. The alternative of trying to intervene once things hit a crisis stage tends to have far worse outcomes in terms of success and confidentiality. Depressive disorder – as well as anxiety disorders – is easily diagnosed and highly treatable, and patient confidentiality laws and the codes of ethics followed by licensed mental health practitioners keep diagnoses and treatment private. Being aware of and honest about your feelings is key, along with knowing when to seek help.
Recognition of some of the common symptoms of depression are a prerequisite to early intervention, whether within yourself or someone else. While there are several different types of depressive disorders, each with their own symptomology, below are some of the most commonly used by mental health practitioners:
When you are experiencing any of the following, and they are affecting your quality of life and functioning, it is time to look for help:
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feeling sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). (In children and adolescents, this may be characterized as an irritable mood.)
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day
- Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
- Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
- Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
- Marked irritability and easily frustrated
- Feeling overwhelmed and increased anxiety
- Crying more often
And one of the simplest diagnostic tools we can use is a single, focused question:
“Are you having more bad days than good?
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The suicide of a celebrity is a stark reminder of how fragile life is and how even those who seem to have it all are vulnerable to a tortured mind. They can also remind us of our own fragility, and that of those around us, and offer the opportunity to check in on our own wellness.
Be safe, and take care of each other.
