Cops Are Dying By Suicide — and No One Is Talking About It

In today’s law enforcement world, Military and public service members face increasing challenges as the public turns their sights towards them.

Once upon a time, not to long ago, our public service members were respected, praised, and all around loved. However, times have drastically changed, and now our members face public defamation, extreme scrutiny, and increasing life or death situations just for being an officer.

Many Public service members find it increasing hard to safely do their jobs. Many would describe this new era of policing as the “our hands our tied” generation.

​One Anonymous Officer states “ how can we do anything when the the public wants us to do nothing, but do everything, but when stuff goes bad we are left out to dry”.

The stresses of the job and continued pressure placed on our officers has come to all time high.Law enforcement agencies across the country lost at least 159 officers to suicide in 2018. According to the organization, at least 159 officers took their own lives in 2018 — the same number of suicide fatalities it tracked in 2017 and 19 more than in 2016. As of February 2019, there is an astounding 31 suicides, an all time high. By contrast, the estimated number of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty last year was 145, according to an annual report released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

That means the number of suicides out weigh the line of duty deaths, however there is hope. Blue H.E.L.P is an organization that helps and aid our officers when no one else is listening.

Blue H.E.L.P’s mission statement

It is the mission of Blue H.E.L.P. to reduce mental health stigma through education, advocate for benefits for those suffering from post-traumatic stress, acknowledge the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers we lost to suicide, assist officers in their search for healing, and to bring awareness to suicide and mental health issue