What to know about stress, suicide and mental health among law enforcement

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - According to recent reports from The Center for Naval Analyses, 184 law enforcement officers committed suicide on average per year between 2016 and 2022.

Serious mental health issues are becoming an epidemic among members of law enforcement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found work stress in first responders can be associated with elevated risk for depression, anxiety and suicide.

It is estimated that 30% of first responders will develop behavioral health conditions over the course of their careers.

“We have a program called ‘Struggle Well’, and it deals with post-traumatic stress disorder, but it’s more of a post-traumatic growth,” said Al Eskanazy, founder of the Community Police Relations Foundation. “Take a negative, turn it into a positive, let’s seal it at the point of trauma, not a year or two later.”

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