Suicide ‘can’t be whispered anymore’ after police officer deaths, advocacy group says
A Canadian police advocacy group is calling for more awareness around officer mental health after three officers died by suicide in the span of three days last week.
A Canadian police advocacy group is calling for increased awareness of officer mental health following three officer suicides within a week. The deaths occurred at the Hamilton Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Dilnaz Garda, president of Canada Beyond the Blue, states that the suicides were not surprising, as she believes police officers are suffering.
Garda herself lost her brother, a Toronto police constable, to suicide after he was involved in a fatal shooting. The average police officer witnesses between 800 and 1,000 traumatic incidents throughout their career. When William Woodstock, a former Durham Regional Police officer, learned of a recent officer's death, he too contemplated suicide due to the trauma he experienced.
He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after 30 days of not returning to his post following a 2020 mass shooting. Woodstock advocates for better support systems for officers who witness traumatic events, emphasizing that discussing suicide helps reduce stigma and encourages help-seeking behavior.
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