Vancouver police launch mental health program for officers after recent suicides
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Vancouver police launch mental health program for officers after recent suicides
Law enforcement officers face a higher risk of suicide than being killed on duty. The life expectancy of an officer is 22 years less than that of civilians. Mental health became one of Chief Troy Price’s top priorities when he took over the department last December. First Help is an organization founded with the aim to de-stigmatize mental health for first responders. The Vancouver Police Resilience Program was started in January after VPD lost two officers to suicide in recent years. The result, she said, is that officers have better morale.
Suicides among first responders are prompting agencies to focus on the mental health of their own.
According to the FBI, the life expectancy of an officer is 22 years less than that of civilians.
The very people you expect to save your life are now trying to save their own.
“We’re not just reacting to crisis,” said Nicole Vigil, who leads the Vancouver Police Resilience Program. “I think officers are having a little bit better morale and more willing to kind of break down that stigma regarding mental health and wellness.”
Mental health became one of Chief Troy Price’s top priorities when he took over the department last December.
The program was started in January after VPD lost two officers to suicide in recent years.
“My position was created as a sworn officer to kind of vet the resources and then present them to officers, almost like a warm handoff. And some of the resources would entail just using our licensed clinicians, mindfulness practices, any kind of proactive wellness solutions.
Research shows officers are more likely to suffer from PTSD, anxiety, alcohol abuse and suicide.
In fact, law enforcement officers face a higher risk of suicide than being killed on duty.
First Help is an organization founded with the aim to de-stigmatize mental health for first responders.
According to the nonprofit, since 2020 Oregon lost six officers to suicide, two of those just this year.
While in Washington, 11 officers have died by suicide since 2020.
“We’re striving to just create just a program where officers can feel comfortable and be well physically, emotionally, mentally,” Vigil said as she noted that the program is trying to change the shift in culture.
The result, she said, is that officers have better morale.
“You can go into a shift briefing and I’ll kind of make a joke about, hey, what are you guys grateful for today? And it’s amazing what it’ll do to a shift briefing because officers will start just talking about gratitude, and they go out with a better outlook on their day,” Vigil said.
There is a plan to add more leadership roles to the program.
There is also talk about extending the program to family members of officers.