Denver Police Officers
Make a Call to Action
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| Deputy Chief Quinones |
Denver, CO
– The Carson J Spencer Foundation, in partnership with the Denver Police
Department, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National
Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and the American Association of
Suicidology, launched a new video today entitled Breaking the Silence: Suicide
Prevention in Law Enforcement, making a clear call to action to Denver
Police Officers and Police Chiefs around the world to make suicide prevention a
health and safety priority. Access video here: http://youtu.be/u-mDvJIU9RI .
The video was produced by
the Carson J Spencer Foundation, a Denver-based nonprofit leading innovation in
suicide prevention, and was supported financially by the Kenosha Police
Department. Additional support was provided by police psychologists from
Lakewood-based Nicoletti-Flater Associates.
 |
| Det. Sprague |
“Physical health and
well-being are important in a police officer’s life, but psychological and
emotional health are just as important,” said Denver Police Chief Robert White.
“We want to create an environment which provides options for all types of
wellness treatment and encourages our employees to use services available with no
stigma.”
“The
tough-guy culture in law enforcement certainly makes for psychological hearty
police officers, but when people are overwhelmed by trauma, loss, or a break
with mental illness, this tough exterior can prevent the officer from reaching
out and getting some much needed support and treatment,” said Sally
Spencer-Thomas, CEO and Co-Founder of the Carson J Spencer Foundation and
producer of the video.
 |
| Denver Police Department Chaplain Dr. Jackson Pope |
The video features
real police officers,
many from Kenosha and Denver police departments, who describe their struggles
in coping with challenges of law enforcement and their own experiences with
suicide.
“Our
jobs, as law enforcement officers, often place us in the middle of highly
traumatic situations and this can cause a lot increased emotional stress and
trauma for officers”, said IACP’s President, Chief Yousry “Yost” Zakhary (City
of Woodway, Texas). “In addition to making sure our officers are physically
safe, we also need to make sure they are psychological safety.”
“Law
Enforcement officers are the first line of defense in protecting our towns,
cities and communities. We must be
vigilant in helping them to protect their own health,” said Doryn Chervin,
Dr.P.H., Executive Secretary of the National Action Alliance for Suicide
Prevention and Vice President and Senior Scientist in the Education Development
Center, Inc.’s Health and Human Development Division. “The Law Enforcement
community and its leaders are taking proactive measures to mitigate the risk of
suicide and openly address mental health as a core element of officer
safety. The video, Breaking the Silence, brings forth courageous stories of police
officers openly discussing their own mental health challenges and why seeking
mental health support fosters resiliency and overall wellness.”
 |
| Lt. John Coppedge |
"The
American Association of Suicidology is proud to be affiliated with this
campaign to raise awareness of suicide risk and decrease stigma associated with
mental health treating-seeking among those serving in our police force,” said
Michelle Cornette, Executive Director for AAS. “We acknowledge the significant
potential for trauma exposure in this line of work and strongly encourage
treatment-seeking among those experiencing mental health sequelae."
“As
a law enforcement officer for 30 plus years, the last eight as a chief, I
assure you the care for officers' mental and emotional health must be
equivalent to that of their safety and physical health. Use this video to start
the conversation. Silence only compounds the problem,” said Kenosha Police
Chief John Morrissey, member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide
Prevention’s Workplace Task Force.
Breaking the Silence: Suicide Prevention in Law
Enforcement Video: http://youtu.be/u-mDvJIU9RI
.
###
The American Association of
Suicidology (AAS;
www.suicidology.org)is a membership organization founded in 1968 for
all those involved in suicide prevention and intervention or touched by
suicide. AAS leads the advancement of scientific and programmatic efforts in
suicide
prevention through
research, education and training, the development of standards and resources,
and survivor support services.
Contact: Michelle Cornette, Executive Director,
202-237-2280, cornette@suicidology.org
The Carson J Spencer Foundation (www.CarsonJSpencer.org)
is a Colorado nonprofit, established in 2005. We envision a world where leaders
and communities are committed to sustaining a passion for living. We elevate
the conversation to make suicide prevention a health and safety priority. We
sustain a passion for living by:
· Delivering innovative and effective suicide prevention
programs for working-aged people.
· Coaching young leaders to develop social enterprises
for mental health promotion and suicide prevention.
· Supporting people bereaved by suicide.
Contact: Sally Spencer-Thomas, PsyD, CEO & Co-Founder,
720-244-6535, sally@carsonjspencer.org
International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP)
The IACP is the world’s
largest association of law enforcement executives. Founded in 1893, the IACP
has over 21,000 members in 100 countries around the world. The IACP’s mission is to advance professional
police services; promote enhanced administrative, technical, and operational
police practices; and foster cooperation and the exchange of information and
experience among police leaders and police organizations of recognized
professional and technical standing throughout the world. Additionally, the
IACP champions the recruitment and training of qualified persons in the police
profession and encourages all police personnel worldwide to achieve and
maintain the highest standards of ethics, integrity, community interaction and
professional conduct. For more information on the IACP, please visit http://www.theiacp.org
Contact: Yost Zackary, President yzakhary@woodwaymail.org and Vince
Talucci talucci@theiacp.org
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (www.ActionAllianceforSuicidePrevention.org) is
the public-private partnership working to advance the National Strategy for
Suicide Prevention and make suicide prevention a national priority. Education
Development Center, Inc. (EDC) operates the Secretariat for the Action
Alliance, which was launched in 2010 by former U.S. Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates with
the goal of saving 20,000 lives in five years.
Contact: Eileen Sexton, Director of Communications,
202-572-5383, esexton@edc.org.
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