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Stephen Barron, PsychLaw Conference - 2007.
Police Officer Suicide:Police Officer Suicide:
NSW Police Force.NSW Police Force.1999 to 20051999 to 2005Stephen W. BarronStephen W. Barron
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
&esearch 'oals:&esearch 'oals:
To investigate suicie !y "SW Po#ice To investigate suicie !y "SW Po#ice
$%cers using a Psycho#ogica#$%cers using a Psycho#ogica#
&utopsy Protoco#.&utopsy Protoco#.
'entify the (ey psycho#ogica#, socia#'entify the (ey psycho#ogica#, socia#
an occupationa# factors associatean occupationa# factors associate
with po#ice o%cer suicie.with po#ice o%cer suicie.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
SUICIDE: A MULTI-FACTORIAL EVENT
Neurobiology
Severe MedicalIllness
Impulsiveness
Access To Weapons
Hopelessness
Life Stressors
Family History
SuicidalBeavior
!ersonality"isorder#Traits
!syciatric Illness
$o%morbidity
!sycodynamics#!sycological &ulnerability
Substance
'se#Abuse
Suicide
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
PSYCHOSOCIAL SITUATION:
LIFE STRESSORS
Recent severe stress!u" "i!e events #ss$ci#ted %it& suicide in
vu"ner#'"e individu#"s (M$scic)i *++,.
Stress$rs inc"ude inter/ers$n#" "$ss $r c$n!"ict ec$n$0ic/r$'"e0s "e1#" /r$'"e0s #nd 0$vin1 (2rent et #" *++3'Les#1e et #" *++4 Ric& et #" *++5# M$scic)i *++,.
Hi1& ris) stress$r: &u0i"i#tin1 events e.1. !in#nci#" ruin#ss$ci#ted %it& sc#nd#" 'ein1 #rrested $r 'ein1 !ired(Hirsc&!e"d #nd D#vids$n *+55 6 c#n "e#d t$ i0/u"sivesuicide.
Identi!7 stress$r in c$nte8t $! /ers$n#"it7 stren1t&vu"ner#'i"ities i""ness #nd su//$rt s7ste0.
All studies are reviews
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
PROTECTIVE FACTORS
C&i"dren in t&e &$0e e8ce/t #0$n1 t&$se %it&/$st/#rtu0 /s7c&$sis
Pre1n#nc7
Deterrent re"i1i$us 'e"ie!s
Li!e s#tis!#cti$n
Re#"it7 testin1 #'i"it7
P$sitive c$/in1 s)i""s
P$sitive s$ci#" su//$rt
P$sitive t&er#/eutic re"#ti$ns&i/
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
(he Pscholo)ical *utops(he Pscholo)ical *utops
protocol.protocol.
&n investigative techni)ue where the&n investigative techni)ue where the
ai* is to gather enough infor*ationai* is to gather enough infor*ation
a!out the circu*stances of a personsa!out the circu*stances of a persons
eath +suicie to gain aneath +suicie to gain an
unerstaning of the reasons for thatunerstaning of the reasons for that
eath +suicie,eath +suicie,
awton et a# +//awton et a# +//
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
Pscholo)ical *utopsPscholo)ical *utops
1etho is specu#ative, pro!a!i#istic1etho is specu#ative, pro!a!i#istic
an resu#ts in a professiona# opinionan resu#ts in a professiona# opinion
regaring the causes an events whichregaring the causes an events which
*ay have contri!ute to the ecision*ay have contri!ute to the ecisionto suicie.to suicie.
Present protoco# was aapte fro* ePresent protoco# was aapte fro* eLeo 3 4vans +2002 stuy of suicie inLeo 3 4vans +2002 stuy of suicie in
5#.5#.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
+ethodolo)-ata+ethodolo)-ata
Co*prehensive review of a## eathsCo*prehensive review of a## eathsreporte to the "SW Coroner of Po#icereporte to the "SW Coroner of Po#ice$%cers 6 /// to 1ay 200.$%cers 6 /// to 1ay 200.
1orta#ity rate of serving po#ice o%cers1orta#ity rate of serving po#ice o%cerswas /0 eaths +"SW Po#ice 8 atawas /0 eaths +"SW Po#ice 8 atawithin the sa*p#e years, withwithin the sa*p#e years, with
09 eaths reporte to the "SW Coroner.09 eaths reporte to the "SW Coroner.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
NSW Police +ortalitNSW Police +ortalit
eart isease 6 0 eaths,eart isease 6 0 eaths, &ccients 6 eaths,&ccients 6 eaths,
1otor :ehic#e co##isions 6 eaths,1otor :ehic#e co##isions 6 eaths,
o*icie 6 eaths,o*icie 6 eaths, &#coho# re#ate a!use 6 2 eaths,&#coho# re#ate a!use 6 2 eaths,
Suicie 6 9 eaths,Suicie 6 9 eaths, $ther causes 6 2 eaths,$ther causes 6 2 eaths, ;n(nown causes 6 < eaths.;n(nown causes 6 < eaths.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
NSW Police +ortalit contdNSW Police +ortalit contd
/ eaths of po#ice o%cers whi#st on/ eaths of po#ice o%cers whi#st on
uty=uty= < trave#ing in po#ice vehic#es,< trave#ing in po#ice vehic#es,
9 >rear* re#ate wouns, an9 >rear* re#ate wouns, an
2 o%cers sta!!e.2 o%cers sta!!e.
$vera##= <.7? of a## eaths are on uty,$vera##= <.7? of a## eaths are on uty, Suicie rate accounts for ? of a## "SWSuicie rate accounts for ? of a## "SW
po#ice o%cer eaths.po#ice o%cer eaths.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
Suicide &ate co/parison.Suicide &ate co/parison.
"SW +200 6 suicie rate . per"SW +200 6 suicie rate . per
00,000 +gen. [email protected],000 +gen. pop@n.
"SW Po#ice +200 6 suicie rate of 20.7"SW Po#ice +200 6 suicie rate of 20.7
per 00,000.per 00,000.
;.S. !est Aguesti*ate@ 6 per 00,000;.S. !est Aguesti*ate@ 6 per 00,000
+&a*ot 3 Wer#ic(, ///+&a*ot 3 Wer#ic(, ///
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
Suicide Freuenc 1999$2005Suicide Freuenc 1999$2005
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
-e/o)raphic -ata.-e/o)raphic -ata.
1a#es 6 92=1a#es 6 92= e*a#es 6 2e*a#es 6 2
1ean age= 9 years,1ean age= 9 years,
1arita# status=1arita# status= 1arrie=1arrie= <0?<0?
Sing#e=Sing#e= 9.?9.?
e facto=e facto= .?.?
Separate=Separate= <?<? ivorce=ivorce= 9?9?
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
-e/o)raphic data contd.-e/o)raphic data contd.
8e#igious a%#iation=8e#igious a%#iation= Catho#ic 6 7<?Catho#ic 6 7<?
&ng#ican, Church of 4ng#an 6 7?&ng#ican, Church of 4ng#an 6 7?
+// stuy of po#ice recruits 6 9? C of 4+// stuy of po#ice recruits 6 9? C of 4an 9? 8o*an Catho#ic.an 9? 8o*an Catho#ic.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
-e/o)raphic data contd.-e/o)raphic data contd.
Location 6 <7? at ho*e= 20? at aLocation 6 <7? at ho*e= 20? at a
po#ice station,po#ice station,
Dears of service 6 9<? with #ess than Dears of service 6 9<? with #ess than
2 *onths service +average, an2 *onths service +average, an
? with #ess then 0 years of years? with #ess then 0 years of years
of service,of service,
7 ? of o%cers co**itte suicie7 ? of o%cers co**itte suicie
ha chi#ren.ha chi#ren.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
Occupational Stressors.Occupational Stressors.
Perfor*anceEaFust*ent issues 6 9?,Perfor*anceEaFust*ent issues 6 9?,
Pro!#e*atic wor( re#ationships 6 7?,Pro!#e*atic wor( re#ationships 6 7?,
;ner investigation 6 22?;ner investigation 6 22?+uneresti*ate= since interna#+uneresti*ate= since interna#
co*p#aint >gures were not avai#a!#e,co*p#aint >gures were not avai#a!#e,
Wor( re#ate trau*a 6 .?.Wor( re#ate trau*a 6 .?.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
+ethod of Suicide.+ethod of Suicide.
anging -anging - 7?,7?,
irear* -irear* - <9?,<9?,
rug overose -rug overose - <?,<?,
1otor :ehic#e eGhaust -1otor :ehic#e eGhaust - /?,/?,
$ther -$ther - 7?.7?.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
Suicide #o//unication.Suicide #o//unication.
$vera##= <9? co**unicate suicie$vera##= <9? co**unicate suicie
intent with other persons, inc#uingintent with other persons, inc#uing
fa*i#y, friens an wor( co##eagues.fa*i#y, friens an wor( co##eagues.
9? of o%cers who co**itte9? of o%cers who co**ittesuicie #eft a suicie note.suicie #eft a suicie note.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
#ontact "ith +edical Practitioners#ontact "ith +edical Practitioners
prior to death.prior to death.
:isite their H.P@s within ay 6 9:isite their H.P@s within ay 6 9
*onths prior to eath 6 9<?,*onths prior to eath 6 9<?,
:isite *enta# hea#th professiona#:isite *enta# hea#th professiona#
within 2 *onths of their eath 6 <0?,within 2 *onths of their eath 6 <0?,
Ta(ing *eications at ti*e of eath 6 Ta(ing *eications at ti*e of eath 6
<0? +anti-epressants *ost co**on.<0? +anti-epressants *ost co**on.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
Presence of +ental 3llness at ti/ePresence of +ental 3llness at ti/e
of death.of death. $vera##= 77? of ecease o%cers$vera##= 77? of ecease o%cers
inicate so*e evience of *enta#inicate so*e evience of *enta#
i##ness,i##ness,
$f these=$f these= epressive isorers 6epressive isorers 6 9.?,9.?,
Persona#ity isorers 6Persona#ity isorers 6 <?,<?,
&nGiety -&nGiety - <?,<?,
SchiIophrenia -SchiIophrenia - ?,?,
"o inications -"o inications - 29?.29?.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
Other &esults.Other &esults.
&cute events 6 <0? of eaths,&cute events 6 <0? of eaths,
Binge or heavy a#coho# use 6 90?,Binge or heavy a#coho# use 6 90?,
S*o(ers 6 ?,S*o(ers 6 ?,
8eferre !y "SW Po#ice for intervention 68eferre !y "SW Po#ice for intervention 6
.?,.?,
Presence of negative #ife events 6 9?,Presence of negative #ife events 6 9?,
Presence of trigger event 6 20?,Presence of trigger event 6 20?, 8e#ationship !@own within 2 *onths 68e#ationship !@own within 2 *onths 6
0?.0?.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
Officer Suicide &is4 Profile.Officer Suicide &is4 Profile.
Characteristics=Characteristics= Persona# - *a#e, a!out 9 years of age,Persona# - *a#e, a!out 9 years of age,
*arrie, catho#ic, resiing at ho*e with*arrie, catho#ic, resiing at ho*e with
spouseEpartner an chi#ren, s*o(er.spouseEpartner an chi#ren, s*o(er.
Socia# 6 *oerate to heavy rin(er, aJecte !ySocia# 6 *oerate to heavy rin(er, aJecte !y
a#coho# at eath, access to >rear*,a#coho# at eath, access to >rear*,
co**unicate intention to fa*i#y or wor(co**unicate intention to fa*i#y or wor(co##eague, re#ationship !rea(own within 2co##eague, re#ationship !rea(own within 2
*onths an increase negative #ife events*onths an increase negative #ife events
within 9 *onths of eath.within 9 *onths of eath.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
&is4 Profile contd.&is4 Profile contd.
Characteristics Cont@=Characteristics Cont@= $ccupationa# 6 #ess than 0 years of service,$ccupationa# 6 #ess than 0 years of service,
current#y uner investigation for wor( re#atecurrent#y uner investigation for wor( re#ate
incient or perfor*ance issue, referre forincient or perfor*ance issue, referre for
wor(p#ace supportEassess*ent, whose wor( re#atewor(p#ace supportEassess*ent, whose wor( re#atepro!#e*s are (nown !y co##eagues anEorpro!#e*s are (nown !y co##eagues anEor
*anagers.*anagers.
Psycho#ogica# 6 recent history of *enta# i##nessPsycho#ogica# 6 recent history of *enta# i##ness+usua##y epression, ta(ing prescri!e *eication,+usua##y epression, ta(ing prescri!e *eication,
no previous history or suicie, no previous atte*pts,no previous history or suicie, no previous atte*pts,
visite *eica# practitioner 9 *onths prior to eath.visite *eica# practitioner 9 *onths prior to eath.
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Stephen Barron, Psch!a"
6ealth Wor4er 7ias effect.6ealth Wor4er 7ias effect.
#arpenter, 198%.#arpenter, 198%.
or* of positive se#ection !iasor* of positive se#ection !iasregare as occupationa# protectiveregare as occupationa# protectivefactors re suicie ris(=factors re suicie ris(=
Pre-recruit*ent an se#ection screening,Pre-recruit*ent an se#ection screening,inc#uing *u#ti-#eve# se#ection processes,inc#uing *u#ti-#eve# se#ection processes,
Cohesiveness of the organisation,Cohesiveness of the organisation, 1eica# an *enta# i##ness support,1eica# an *enta# i##ness support, Perceive *eaningfu#ness of e*p#oy*ent.Perceive *eaningfu#ness of e*p#oy*ent. +:io#anti, //K ourani et a#, ///K 1i##er,+:io#anti, //K ourani et a#, ///K 1i##er,
2000K &ger!o, 200.2000K &ger!o, 200.
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