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A Historical Survey of Police Suicide in Queensland, Australia, 1843–1992
Author(s) -
Cantor Christopher Henry,
Tyman Ruth,
Slater Penelope Joy
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1995.tb00242.x
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , suicide rates , suicide prevention , intervention (counseling) , occupational safety and health , criminology , psychiatry , alcohol abuse , poison control , psychology , medicine , geography , environmental health , political science , law , archaeology
Police suicide research has yielded inconsistent results. An opportunity presented to survey Queensland police suicides in a historical context and add to the existing literature; the study describes changes in police suicide over time, the associated characteristics, and opportunities for intervention. Suicides were examined from the origins of police in Queensland in 1843 up to 1992. Suicide rates were higher earlier, around 60 per 100,000, declining to around 20 per 100,000 recently. The recent rate is lower than most other police studies but the same as the general community (employed). Most suicides were associated with psychological and physical ill health, alcohol abuse, and domestic problems, in keeping with general community surveys. However, occupational problems were more evident than is generally the case. The proximity in time of disciplinary events and suicides was striking. Future studies should explore the interactions between these factors.