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Suicide Awareness Month: Supporting Those Who Serve in Public Safety


Blue and purple ribbon on a yellow shield with text "September Suicide Prevention Month" on a blue background, promoting awareness.

Each September, Suicide Awareness Month honors lives lost, supports those in need, and tackles mental health stigma. This time is for reflection and action, especially within public safety professions facing significant challenges.


The History of Suicide Awareness Month


Suicide Awareness Month, or National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, aims to elevate suicide prevention and reduce the stigma that inhibits seeking help.


Its roots go back to the early 1970s, when suicide prevention hotlines began appearing across the United States.[1] In 2001, the launch of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention provided a framework for coordinated action.[2] Each year, September has been recognized as a time to amplify education, foster understanding, and strengthen support systems.[3]


Today, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988) is a critical resource. However, awareness alone is not sufficient, especially for those serving on the front lines of public safety.


The Hidden Struggles of Public Safety Professionals


Police officers, corrections staff, parole officers, firefighters, and other public safety professionals are trained to protect others, yet often struggle to protect themselves from the emotional and psychological impact of their work.


Some unique risk factors include:


  • Chronic Exposure to Trauma – Daily contact with violence, crisis, and suffering creates layers of unresolved stress and grief.

  • Cultural Barriers – Within law enforcement and corrections, stigma around seeking mental health support remains strong. Admitting to struggles can be misperceived as a sign of weakness.

  • Shift Work and Fatigue – Long, irregular hours disrupt sleep cycles, increasing vulnerability to depression and suicidal ideation.

  • Isolation – Public safety professionals often struggle to share the depth of their experiences with family and friends, leaving them feeling cut off.

  • Access to Means – The very tools of their profession, such as firearms, may increase suicide risk if mental health struggles go unaddressed.


Research indicates that suicide rates among law enforcement, correctional officers, and other public safety workers are consistently above the national average.[4][5] According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate among law enforcement officers is approximately 17 per 100,000, compared to the national average of 14 per 100,000.[6][7] In some years, more officers die by suicide than in the line of duty.[8][9]


A Mindful Approach to Suicide Prevention


At the Center for Mindfulness in Public Safety, we believe mindfulness is not a cure-all, but it is a powerful and practical tool for building resilience. Mindfulness practices help public safety professionals:

  • Develop greater awareness of their emotional states.

  • Regulate stress responses in the face of trauma.

  • Build compassion for themselves and others.

  • Create a safe internal space to pause before reacting.


By cultivating these skills, public safety professionals can access healthier ways of coping and feel more connected to themselves, their colleagues, and their communities.


Practical Application: How can mindfulness practices be integrated into daily routines or shifts? Simple approaches include starting meetings with a brief mindfulness exercise, taking short mindful breathing breaks during shifts, or sharing guided mindfulness resources via mobile devices. Encouraging open discussion of effective practices among team members can further support the adoption of these practices.[10][11]


Moving Forward Together


Suicide Awareness Month shows prevention is a shared responsibility. Public safety agencies should foster cultures of support, integrate mindfulness-based wellness programs, and promote community engagement to prevent isolation. Agencies can make this visible with mandatory peer-support debriefs after critical incidents and 'support meetings' replacing traditional critique sessions. These steps translate 'support first' values into clear cultural practices.


Organizational Support: What specific steps can agencies take to reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek help? Agencies can offer confidential mental health services, provide ongoing education about mental health and stigma reduction, highlight stories of resilience and recovery, and publicly recognize individuals who champion mental wellness.


Effective leadership communication that normalizes seeking help and addresses stigma directly is crucial for fostering a supportive environment. One effective method to promote a culture of openness is to spotlight respected leaders who openly discuss their own personal experiences with counseling. By doing so, seeking support becomes an integral part of the group identity, creating a 'belonging cue' that reinforces that seeking help is the norm, not the exception.[12][13]


This September, take action by initiating conversations, advocating for supportive policies, and sharing resources. Protect not only the public, but also the colleagues and professionals who dedicate themselves to public safety. Your efforts can save a life—start today.


If you or someone you know is struggling, do not wait—reach out now. Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. Share this number widely in your workplace and community to ensure help is accessible to all.


Citations


[2] National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action. (2001). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/suicide-prevention/index.html

[3] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2012). National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma12-4681.pdf

[4] Violanti, J. M., Owens, S. L., Fekedulegn, D., Ma, C. C., Charles, L. E., Hartley, T. A., & Burchfiel, C. M. (2018). Law enforcement suicide: A review. Policing: An International Journal, 41(3), 321-335.

[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Suicide rates by industry and occupation. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html

[7] Police Officer Suicide Statistics. (2025). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1234567/police-officer-suicide-statistics-us/

[8] Heyman, M., Dill, J., & Douglas, R. (2018). The Ruderman White Paper on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders. Ruderman Family Foundation. https://rudermanfoundation.org/white_papers/police-officers-and-firefighters-are-still-more-likely-to-die-by-suicide-than-in-the-line-of-duty-study-finds/

[9] Police Officers and Firefighters Are Still More Likely to Die by Suicide Than in the Line of Duty, Study Finds. (2022). Time. https://time.com/5957730/suicide-first-responders/

[10] Joyce, S., Shand, F., Bryant, R. A., Lal, T. J., & Harvey, S. B. (2019). Mindfulness-based resilience training in the workplace: Pilot study of the internet-based Resilience@Work (RAW) Mindfulness Program. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(5), e12894.

[11] Christopher, M. S., Goerling, R. J., Rogers, B. S., Hunsinger, M., Baron, G., Bergman, A. L., ... & Zava, D. T. (2016). A pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention for police officers. Mindfulness, 7, 764-774.

[12] Corrigan, P. W., Druss, B. G., & Perlick, D. A. (2014). The impact of mental illness stigma on seeking and participating in mental health care. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 15(2), 37-70.

[13] Jones, J. (2021). Leadership and stigma reduction in first responder agencies. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 36(2), 217-227.

 
 
 

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