Dealing with Blue Suicide during COVID-19 pandemic

Dealing with Blue Suicide during COVID-19 pandemic
By: Robert Foreman

Recently, Dr. Lorna Breen, the head of the emergency department in Manhattan, committed suicide after spending weeks on the frontline attending to COVID-19 patients. This was on the heels of a Bronx rookie paramedic, John Mondello, taking his own life after only being on the job for less than three months. With the eyes of the world trained on the COVID-19 pandemic it is easy to forget the personal struggles that medical professionals, and first responders, are dealing with. This is why it is even more important that we do not allow the issue of Blue Suicide to slip through the cracks.

Law enforcement officers, like doctors and other first responders, are among the essential workers during this global medical crisis that has brought our country to a virtual standstill. Not only do these officers have to maintain law and order, in an already dangerous profession, they now have the added responsibility of trying to avoid getting sick themselves. For officers who are already dealing with PTSD, depression or other issues, the weight of COVID-19 can push someone on the edge to their breaking point. This is why it is so important to keep the lines of communication open regarding the issue of Blue Suicide.

Statistically, police officers are at a higher risk of suicide than any other profession. So much so, that the number of officers who have died by suicide is greater than those who have been killed in the line of duty. According to the Addiction Center website, 13 out of every 100,000 people die by suicide in the general population. Yet, this statistic increases to 17 out of 100,000 people for police officers. In fact, some prevention advocates believe that the statistics don’t accurately reflect the true number of suicides due to some families choosing not to report the cause of death as suicide and simply stating that the death was ‘accidental.’

Yet, COVID-19 has created an unprecedented situation for those officers who are considering suicide. Not only has it added increased stress to an already stressful job, but along with the stay-at-home orders they find themselves feeling even more isolated. An officer who is struggling with depression, or other issues, does not need to feel even more alone with their dark thoughts. So, if you have a colleague that is struggling to cope during the pandemic don’t be afraid to reach out to them. If you are an officer who is struggling to hold it together during the COVID-19 pandemic, don’t feel that you are alone. Many people, particularly in law enforcement, don’t want to reach out for help because they believe that it makes them look weak. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Just because you are a first responder doesn’t mean that you have to pretend to be Superman or Wonder Woman. Hell, even Superman and Wonder Woman had the Justice League to help them when they were in trouble. So, no matter how rough the world seems now with COVID-19 things can, and will, get better. Remember, that your brothers and sisters in blue will always be there to help you. All you have to do is reach out for assistance. If you are currently in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or feel free to speak to your fellow first responders at Moment of Silence Inc.: http://momentofsilenceinc.org/?fbclid=IwAR3iykXsx1Ai4BqYwtyKcvCXYy7enVK4jg0chngVmw3cMrqgBrkQDgIXn-k