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http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2005/01/30/914974-cp.html
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Police union examines suicide counselling
By NELSON WYATT
MONTREAL (CP) - The Montreal police union will consider this week what could have been done to prevent the recent suicides of two officers within six weeks of each other.
Alain Legault, a union spokesman, said everyone is still coming to grips with last week's death of a detective assigned to the force's elite - and high pressure - major crimes unit.
"We really have to sit with the psychologists in the program to see what the conclusions are about that," said Legault.
"We have such a meeting Monday morning, to see what happened with that case last Sunday but also the entire situation because it's a real concern for the union."
The police department has had a counselling program in place since 1990 with suicide prevention added in 1997. The first suicide after that happened in December 2003, followed by another in December 2004.
The third incident happened a week ago when the major crimes division detective fatally shot himself with his service pistol in the unit's office.
Montreal police have two psychologists on staff and three part-time workers who are always available to officers. The program is administered by a committee composed of representatives from the union and the police.
"It's not just for suicide prevention but for all the problems that we find in the police department, from being at a crime scene that is particularly gross or dangerous to burnout and things like that," said Legault, who described the Montreal program as "fairly good."
"The first thing that we're proud of is that we've broken the taboo of talking about problems such as burnout or marital problems," he said. "People in the police stations talk about it and even refer their colleagues to the program."
He also noted that in Quebec, statistics indicate that eight per cent of the working population have been referred for psychological counselling. Six per cent of Montreal police officers have taken advantage of the force's counselling program.
A former police officer, who didn't want to be identified, also praised the program.
Officers who need psychological help can get it from a doctor "within seconds," he said. "Boom, boom, you've got an appointment right away."
He said the 44-year-old officer who killed himself on the job Jan. 16 was known as an "excellent" investigator.
"I don't even chance a reason why he did it," he said of the officer's suicide.
He said he doesn't know why Montreal has a higher suicide rate among its officers than the Vancouver or Toronto forces, noting the Ontario city had a higher murder rate than Montreal.
It's possible the Toronto and Vancouver forces don't publicize their suicides and keep them more quiet, the former officer added.
The Toronto force said its last officer to commit suicide was in 1992 and the Vancouver force has said its last suicide by an officer was in 1990.
Const. Isabelle Cotton of the Toronto police department attributes that department's low suicide rate partly to the existence of a special unit to help officers who may feel they need help.
Trained professionals also visit the department's police college and speak to recruits at length about the program, she said in an interview.
"They'll explain the symptoms and tell them: 'If you feel like you need to talk to somebody or if you feel depressed, come and see us. We're here to help you.' "
Supervisors also encourage officers to seek help if they have gone through a traumatic event on the job.
"I think this helps the police department get through some very difficult situations."
Cotton speaks from experience. Two years ago, she saw a two-year-old killed in front of her.
"They offered me someone to talk to in regards to that," she said.
"They really recommend that and I recommend it. A situation like that, you go home and you think about it. You need to talk to somebody because you don't see that every day. And I find with kids it's even worse."
Cotton said the situation is particularly challenging in major cities, where shootings and other major crimes are more common.
"Every day, there's something happening. I know here in Toronto the past few weeks we've had a shooting - one or two - almost every week. But we also have other situations involving kids, or any kind of situations."
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2005/01/30/914974-cp.html
---
Police union examines suicide counselling
By NELSON WYATT
MONTREAL (CP) - The Montreal police union will consider this week what could have been done to prevent the recent suicides of two officers within six weeks of each other.
Alain Legault, a union spokesman, said everyone is still coming to grips with last week's death of a detective assigned to the force's elite - and high pressure - major crimes unit.
"We really have to sit with the psychologists in the program to see what the conclusions are about that," said Legault.
"We have such a meeting Monday morning, to see what happened with that case last Sunday but also the entire situation because it's a real concern for the union."
The police department has had a counselling program in place since 1990 with suicide prevention added in 1997. The first suicide after that happened in December 2003, followed by another in December 2004.
The third incident happened a week ago when the major crimes division detective fatally shot himself with his service pistol in the unit's office.
Montreal police have two psychologists on staff and three part-time workers who are always available to officers. The program is administered by a committee composed of representatives from the union and the police.
"It's not just for suicide prevention but for all the problems that we find in the police department, from being at a crime scene that is particularly gross or dangerous to burnout and things like that," said Legault, who described the Montreal program as "fairly good."
"The first thing that we're proud of is that we've broken the taboo of talking about problems such as burnout or marital problems," he said. "People in the police stations talk about it and even refer their colleagues to the program."
He also noted that in Quebec, statistics indicate that eight per cent of the working population have been referred for psychological counselling. Six per cent of Montreal police officers have taken advantage of the force's counselling program.
A former police officer, who didn't want to be identified, also praised the program.
Officers who need psychological help can get it from a doctor "within seconds," he said. "Boom, boom, you've got an appointment right away."
He said the 44-year-old officer who killed himself on the job Jan. 16 was known as an "excellent" investigator.
"I don't even chance a reason why he did it," he said of the officer's suicide.
He said he doesn't know why Montreal has a higher suicide rate among its officers than the Vancouver or Toronto forces, noting the Ontario city had a higher murder rate than Montreal.
It's possible the Toronto and Vancouver forces don't publicize their suicides and keep them more quiet, the former officer added.
The Toronto force said its last officer to commit suicide was in 1992 and the Vancouver force has said its last suicide by an officer was in 1990.
Const. Isabelle Cotton of the Toronto police department attributes that department's low suicide rate partly to the existence of a special unit to help officers who may feel they need help.
Trained professionals also visit the department's police college and speak to recruits at length about the program, she said in an interview.
"They'll explain the symptoms and tell them: 'If you feel like you need to talk to somebody or if you feel depressed, come and see us. We're here to help you.' "
Supervisors also encourage officers to seek help if they have gone through a traumatic event on the job.
"I think this helps the police department get through some very difficult situations."
Cotton speaks from experience. Two years ago, she saw a two-year-old killed in front of her.
"They offered me someone to talk to in regards to that," she said.
"They really recommend that and I recommend it. A situation like that, you go home and you think about it. You need to talk to somebody because you don't see that every day. And I find with kids it's even worse."
Cotton said the situation is particularly challenging in major cities, where shootings and other major crimes are more common.
"Every day, there's something happening. I know here in Toronto the past few weeks we've had a shooting - one or two - almost every week. But we also have other situations involving kids, or any kind of situations."
