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Cited by 104Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesPolicing Practices and PerceptionsStress and Burnout Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 76 of the 76 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Law enforcement suicide: a review

Violanti, John M., Owens, Sherry L., McCanlies, Erin, Fekedulegn, Desta, Andrew, Michael E.·2019·Policing An International Journal
DOI 10.1108/pijpsm-05-2017-0061
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Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of law enforcement suicide research from 1997 to 2016. Design/methodology/approach The PRISMA systematic review methodology was implemented. A SCOPUS search identified a total of 97 documents. After applying all exclusion criteria, the results included a list of 44 articles in the review. Findings Overall, studies investigating law enforcement suicide rates show conflicting results, with some studies showing lower suicide rates among law enforcement, some showing higher rates, and some showing no difference to comparison populations. Recurring research themes were lack of an appropriate comparison group, and small statistical power, particularly for minority and female officers. Stressors related to suicide among police included lack of organizational support, traumatic events, shift work, stigma associated with asking for help, or problems associated with fitting in with the police culture. Problems associated with domestic relationships and alcohol use were commonly mentioned as precursors to suicide or as correlates of suicidal ideation and were hypothesized to arise from stressful working conditions. Research limitations/implications Some limitations in law enforcement suicide research include the lack of theory, under-reporting of suicides, and guarded survey responses from police officers. Future directions in police suicide research include investigating etiological factors such as past adverse life and family experiences, social-ecological variation in suicide, or differences in suicide rates within the law enforcement occupation. Practical implications Police work, given chronic and traumatic stress, lack of support, danger, and close public scrutiny is a fertile occupation for increased suicide risk. Awareness of the scope of the problem and associated risk factors can help to initiate prevention programs. Originality/value This paper provides a long-term review of literature regarding police suicidality, with suggestions for research and prevention.

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Crossref · 10.1108/pijpsm-05-2017-0061

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Citations

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Aamodt, M.G. and Stalnaker, N.A. (2006), “Police officer suicide: frequency and officer profiles”, in Shehan, D.C and Warren, I.J. (Eds), 1999 Proceedings of Suicide and Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, DC, pp. 383-389.
  2. Arter, M.L. (2013), “Applying general strain theory to policing: examining police stress”, in Territo, L. and Sewell, J.D. (Eds), Stress Management in Law Enforcement, Carolina Academic Press, Durham, NC, pp. 71-104.
  3. 1999, Suicides among police officers in North-Rhine/Westphalia. an evaluation of 58 cases between 1992 and 1998, Archiv fur Kriminologie, 5, 129
  4. 2005, Impaired decision making following 49 hours of sleep deprivation, Journal of Sleep Research, 15, 1
  5. 2005, Conceptualizing a strain theory of suicide (review), Chinese Mental Health Journal, 19, 778

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Metadata

Authors
Violanti, J. M., Owens, S. L., McCanlies, E., Fekedulegn, D., & Andrew, M. E.
Affiliations
  • University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
  • Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (US)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
ORCID
Venue
Policing An International Journal
Publisher
Emerald
Published
2019-04-08
Volume
42
Issue
2
Pages
141-164
ISSN
1363-951X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1108/pijpsm-05-2017-0061
OpenAlex
W2801173806
Cited by
104
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 2
FWCI
10.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.emerald.com/insight/site-policies (tdm)
Locations
Policing An International Journal (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Policing Practices and Perceptions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
Keywords
police suicide, suicidal ideation, suicide risk factors, occupational stress, organizational support, help-seeking stigma, police culture, domestic relations, alcohol consumption, suicide prevention, women officers, shift work, traumatic events

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