New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill has declared a “mental health crisis” after the third NYPD officer to commit suicide in 10 days was found dead Friday on Staten Island.
“This is a mental-health crisis. And the NYPD & the law enforcement profession as a whole absolutely must take action. We must take care of each other; we must address this issue — now,” O’Neill tweeted.
This is a mental-health crisis. And the NYPD & the law enforcement profession as a whole absolutely must take action. We must take care of each other; we must address this issue — now. Please take my statement below to heart & help yourself, your loved ones, & your colleagues. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/urHuzIiiFb
— Commissioner O’Neill (@NYPDONeill) June 15, 2019
O’Neill also issued a statement urging NYPD officers to reach out for help.
“In less than 10 days’ time, the NYPD has lost three of its own to suicide: a respected chief, an experienced detective, and — today about 3:50 p.m. outside the Staten Island precinct at which he worked — a promising, 29-year-old police officer,” he said in the Friday statement, according to the New York Post.
“This is a mental-health crisis. And we — the NYPD and the law enforcementprofession as a whole — absolutely must take action. This cannot be allowed to continue,” he added.
“Cops spend so much of their days assisting others. But before we can help the people we serve, it is imperative that we first help ourselves. There is no shame in seeking assistance from the many resources available, both inside and outside the department. Accepting help is never a sign of weakness — in fact, it’s a sign of great strength,” he said.
“Please, connect yourself or your friends and colleagues to the assistance that is so close by. We must take care of each other. We must address this issue — now — because it will not go away on its own. We must speak out. And we must end this crisis, together,” O’Neill concluded.
Police say NYPD Officer Michael Caddy, 29, died Friday when he shot himself inside a car near the 121st Precinct station house on Staten Island, where he was assigned, the New York Daily Newsreported.
He was found by an off-duty officer.
Caddy is the third NYPD officer believed to have committed suicide this month.
On June 5, Deputy Chief Steven Silks was found dead in Forest Hills Stadium in Queens of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Silks, 62, had been facing mandatory retirement next month.
On June 6, Detective Joseph Calabrese, 58, was found dead near Plumb Beach in Brooklyn, also of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
His car had been found empty earlier in the day.
The three deaths bring the total number of NYPD suicides in 2019 to four. Four NYPD officers also committed suicide in 2018, according to The New York Times.
A 2018 white paper by the Ruderman Family Foundation noted that police officers and firefighters are at an elevated risk of suicide.
“Suicide is a result of mental illness, including depression and PTSD, which stems from constant exposure to death and destruction,” the report’s summary said.
“One study included in the white paper found that on average, police officers witness 188 ‘critical incidents’ during their careers,” the summary added.
“This exposure to trauma can lead to several forms of mental illness. For example, PTSD and depression rates among firefighters and police officers have been found to be as much as 5 times higher than the rates within the civilian population, which causes these first responders to commit suicide at a considerably higher rate.”
“First responders are heroes who run towards danger every day in order to save the lives of others. They are also human beings, and their work exerts a toll on their mental health,” Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation, said.
“It is our obligation to support them in every way possible — to make sure that they feel welcome and able to access life-saving mental health care. This white paper should serve as a critical call to action to all who care about our heroes in red and blue,” he added.
The summary cited “the shame and stigma surrounding mental health within professions that prioritize bravery and toughness” as reasons that police officers and firefighters do not access mental health services and said “the public remains largely unaware of these issues, since the vast majority of first responder suicides are not covered by the mainstream media.”
“We need to end the silence that surrounds the issue of first responder mental health. We should celebrate the lives of those lost to suicide — at national monuments such as the National Law Enforcement Memorial, in the media, and within police and fire departments around the country,” Ruderman said.
Via WesternJournal
I was looking at some of your articles on this site and I believe this internet site is really instructive! Keep on posting .
Appreciate it for this howling post, I am glad I observed this internet site on yahoo.
I must say, as a lot as I enjoyed reading what you had to say, I couldnt help but lose interest after a while.
I really enjoy examining on this blog , it has got cool goodies .
I must say, as a lot as I enjoyed reading what you had to say, I couldnt help but lose interest after a while.
magnificent post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector don’t notice this. You should continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
Great, yahoo took me stright here. thanks btw for this. Cheers!
Appreciate it for this howling post, I am glad I observed this internet site on yahoo.
Awesome, this is what I was searching for in bing
Cheers, i really think i will be back to your website
This does interest me
Great article to Read, glad that google led me here, Keep Up great job
Hello, i really think i will be back to your website
I am not rattling great with English but I get hold this really easygoing to read .
Hey, bing lead me here, keep up nice work.
I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting details , appreciate it for the post.
Your web has proven useful to me.
Cheers, i really think i will be back to your page
Appreciate it for this howling post, I am glad I observed this internet site on yahoo.
This is nice!
Found this on MSN and I’m happy I did. Well written article.
Thanks for this web. I definitely agree with what you are saying.
I must say, as a lot as I enjoyed reading what you had to say, I couldnt help but lose interest after a while.
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, thanks .
Very interesting points you have remarked, appreciate it for putting up.
I consider something really special in this site.
I must say got into this website. I found it to be interesting and loaded with unique points of interest.
Some truly interesting goodies on this web site , appreciate it for contribution.
I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting details , appreciate it for the post.
Great stuff to check out, glad that google brought me here, Keep Up good job
I love reading through and I believe this website got some genuinely utilitarian stuff on it! .
Some truly fine content on this web site , appreciate it for contribution.
I simply must tell you that you have an excellent and unique article that I must say enjoyed reading.
This does interest me
Enjoyed reading through this, very good stuff, thankyou .
Enjoyed reading through this, very good stuff, thankyou .
Great, google took me stright here. thanks btw for post. Cheers!
yahoo bring me here. Cheers!
Thanks for this article. I definitely agree with what you are saying.
This does interest me