Abusing Alcohol  

Alcohol plays a key part in many suicides. An officer who’s unhappy or depressed drinks in order to feel better. He or she may feel better at first, but ultimately, the alcohol just makes the officer feel even worse. The alcohol also makes the officer’s judgment worse, and lowers the officer’s inhibitions. The officer then kills himself/herself, or has a fatal "accident" with a gun or a car.

If you know that an officer is deeply depressed or unhappy, do not take him/her out to get drunk and "cheer up."

You can get help for alcohol problems at Alcoholics Anonymous. If your spouse, family member, or friend has a drinking problem, and you need help dealing with it, you can also contact Alanon. (Check your local phone book or call information to find out about Alcoholics Anonymous or Alanon meetings near you).

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Depression, a leading cause of suicide

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IMPORTANT NOTE: nothing on this web page or any other web page by the Police Suicide Prevention Association, or in any link or other web page linked to a Police Suicide prevention Association Web Page, constitutes medical, psychiatric, or psychological advice or treatment, or legal advice. Nothing in such web pages or links is intended to replace such advice or treatment. Links to, or references to, other organizations do not necessarily imply that the Police Suicide Prevention Center endorses those organizations, or that those organizations endorse the Police Suicide Prevention Center.

NIE 04/01/2001