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• Badge of Life: Suicide Prevention

  Posted by PeerSupportCentral June 27, 2011 - 515 views - Filed in Law Enforcement

  Thus far in 2011, 36 officers have died by the guns of felons.  In the same time period, 74 officers have died by suicide. Thus far during 2011, thousands of police officers have also been suffering from undiagnosed posttraumatic stress disorder, and thousands more from stress, anxiety or depression, and turning to maladaptive coping tactics such as substance abuse, withdrawal, workaholism or avoidance.  The picture of the iceberg, above, illustrates the change in thinking we must adopt.  We need to recognize and start addressing the real problem if we ever hope to make a difference on "the tip of the iceberg."

   

  One of the facts we're having a lot of difficulty educating folks on has to do with the physical side of PTSD.  Many people feel it's merely an "emotional" injury.  Some recognize that the brain chemistry is affected, as with depression, but believe medications will "straighten it out."  Very few realize that posttraumatic stress disorder is also a very physical injury that causes lasting damage and actually changes to the brain. The type of damage done has much to do with the loss of impulse control and decision making--and why PTSD victims commit suicide.  For more go to:  http://www.badgeoflife.com/ 

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