Law Enforcement
Police officers can contribute to suicide prevention in many ways. They can help individuals at risk for suicide stay safe and obtain the help they need, and can also provide support to survivors at the scene of a suicide. Law enforcement agencies also have a role to play in assisting officers themselves, as the trauma and stress of responding to crises could increase suicide risk in this population.
Learn More
- See the Recommended Resources below selected by SPRC personnel.
- See All Resources Related to Law Enforcement (below) for a full list of materials, programs, trainings, and other information available from SPRC. Use the filters on the left to narrow your results.
- See our Survivors of Suicide Loss page to learn more about this group. For more on other settings and groups, see our Settings and Populations pages.
Filter By:
Recommended Resources
Police-mental health collaboration (PMHC) toolkit
This toolkit provides resources for law enforcement agencies to partner with mental health providers to effectively respond to calls for service, improve outcomes for people with mental illness, and advance the safety of all. The tools can also be adapted for use by campus safety organizations. Technical assistance for law enforcement organizations is available.
Breaking the silence: Suicide prevention in law enforcement
The report was generated through the National Symposium on Law Enforcement Officer Suicide and Mental Health: Breaking the Silence of Law Enforcement Suicides held in the summer of 2013. Subject matter experts dedicated to the psychological welfare of officers participated in the symposium, which was composed of a diverse group of law enforcement executives, officers, […]
The role of law enforcement officers in preventing suicide
This sheet provides basic information to help law enforcement officers recognize and respond to people who may be suicidal or at high risk. It also contains a list of relevant resource materials and organizations. Extensive input and review from law enforcement officers at the national and local levels were obtained in developing the sheet.
In Harm’s Way: Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention
In Harm’s Way: Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention is an eight-hour train-the-trainers program that provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to stress management and suicide prevention for law enforcement and corrections professionals in order to reduce suicide risk. Those who complete the program return to their departments to train administrators, officers, and staff on suicide prevention, including: warning […]