From U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut will implement an online messaging campaign in September during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month to highlight the importance of law enforcement wellness and suicide prevention. According to Badge of Life, more officers die of suicide than from gunfire and traffic accidents combined. The Police Suicide Study estimates that an average of 130 law enforcement suicides occur per year, which is more than ten per month.
“The hard truth is that every year far more police officers take their own lives than are killed in the line of duty by criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly. “This is not surprising when we consider the relentless demands and undeniable toll of the job. Police work draws people of exceptional courage and humility. But far too many officers suffer in silence unable to seek the help they need. We need to do everything we can to prioritize the well-being of all law enforcement officers.”
Over the course of the month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will disseminate messages via social media using the hashtag #OfficerWellness.
