Coroner on cop suicides: ‘Everyone needs to help’
A review of nine police suicides in Ontario in 2018 says the realities of the police mental health “ecosystem” have to change.
“The harsh and unfortunate term that is often invoked in policing is ‘broken toys.’ In other words, you are no longer fit for duty,” said the review based on the findings of eight expert panellists. “And, as we all recall from childhood, once broken, most toys can’t be fixed.”
The panel’s report was released less than five days after Ottawa police Det. Thomas Roberts took his own life inside police headquarters on Elgin Street.
The chief coroner for Ontario, Dr. Dirk Huyer, announced the review in January after he learned of nine police suicides in 2018.
There had not been more than five officer suicides in any single year in the five previous years, according to Huyer’s data.
There have been six police suicides so far this year, Huyer said on Wednesday.
One in five Canadians has some form of mental health illness, but police suffer from both stigma and self-stigma in seeking help. Police have extraordinary responsibilities and are held up to high levels of accountability. Even mild displays of mental health issues can have life-and-death significance. There is fear of letting down the team. Either you are fit for duty, or you’re not. Those who are reassigned and limited in their ability to perform feel a loss of identity as a police officer, said the panel’s report.
“Faced with this harsh and often binary reality, a great number of police members will deny and shield the presence of mental health issues for as long as they can.”
Cultural change is hard, but everyone needs to contribute, said Huyer.
“This isn’t about the government fixing it. It’s about shared responsibilities. It’s really crucial that everyone needs to help,” he said.
“The reality is that we all rely on police. If there is trauma, if there is a violent incident, we’re all running away. They’re running to it.”
The expert panel noted there was a “distinct pattern” in all nine police suicides in the review. By the time each officer had arrived at the intention to end his or her life, each had travelled a series of pathways, and each pathway had reached its end.
The report identified three pathways: acute mental health issues, often accompanied by substance disorders; diminished access to timely and quality care; and actual or perceived disconnection from family, friends and the police organization, often pushed to its end point by events at work or in personal and family life. Officers need to see that their organizations are applying the same standards internally as they are externally, said panel member Dr. Simon Hatcher, a psychiatrist and researcher at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
“Only now have we recognized the importance of creating resilient organizations rather than resilient people,” Hatcher said.
The report recommends creating a collaborative standing body accountable to the deputy solicitor general to meet four times a year. Among other responsibilities, the volunteer body would identify and act to resolve gaps, overlaps and deficiencies in the system. It would also develop an agenda of research topics. The group would include representatives from the policing community, families, police psychologists, other mental health providers and insurance and benefits providers.
The Ottawa Police Service supports and agrees with the recommendations and will be reviewing the report to ensure its own wellness and mental health supports are in line with the framework in the review, said Interim Chief Steve Bell.
“This is an important conversation that we must continue with our members, their families and the community. We need to continue to ensure that help is available and address and eliminate barriers that prevent people from getting the supports they need.”
In a statement, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said her ministry is committed to reviewing the recommendations and providing resources and supports for officers and their families.
Police Association of Ontario president Bruce Chapman said considerable amounts of money are needed to address the issues outlined in the report, which will affect staffing and training.
“The only way we can start adequately addressing it is to adequately fund it.”