Depression, Suicide, and Suicide-By-Cop Nicole Duranceaux, Ph.D. Albuquerque Police Department Behavioral Sciences Division Albuquerque, NM 87199 (505) 764-1600 Cell (505) 417-6407

Why Should a Police Officer Know About Depression? Accounts for most suicidal, passive neglect behavior Suicidal persons are sometimes homicidal persons Annually, twice as many police officers kill themselves than are killed by assailants and accidents Police officers are expected to offer help to the public, victims, friends, co-workers and subordinates.

Depression Key Points Most common mental-health-related problem In a lifetime, moderate-severe depression will affect 5% - 10% of males 10% -20% of females Accounts for 75% of all psychiatric hospitalizations Depression versus ‘Major Depressive Disorder’ or ‘Clinical Depression’

General Characteristics of Depression Sadness Usually situational All of us have been sad, and have learned to deal with it. Grief Often the most severe sadness May have a clear cause E.g., death, divorce, loss of health

Criteria for Clinical Depression Five or more of the following for at least 2 wks: Depressed mood or lack of interest or pleasure Significant weight change Sleep disturbance Psychomotor agitation or retardation Daily fatigue Problems thinking, concentrating Feelings of worthlessness or guilt Thoughts of death, dying, suicide Change from previous functioning Not better accounted for by something else May come about through biochemical changes in the brain.

General Characteristics of Clinical Depression If untreated, a major depressive episode can last six months or longer. The onset is often gradual (i.e. weeks or months) Can begin suddenly following a trigger I.e., death of a loved one, divorce, job loss Person may be unaware of depression, but May experience it as disappointment, anger, “emptiness,” loneliness, or fatigue. May be apparent to an episodic observer “ I just saw Uncle Fred for the first time in months and he looks like shit”

Circumstances of the Law Enforcement Encounter Barricadel, with or without a hostage(s) Suicide in progress (or completed suicide) “Man with a gun” call Welfare check Interrupted homicide/suicide. Bizarre behavior (bridge jumper, running in traffic, setting self on fire)

Suicidal Triad Alcohol - either chronically or acutely Isolation - divorced, “ a loner “ , a person who has “burned his bridges “ with family and friends Hopelessness - both real and perceived

Suicide Rate for U.S. Usually begins with thoughts, fantasies About 14.5 per 100,000 75-90 suicides per year in Albuquerque metro area Usually begins with thoughts, fantasies Means, motive, plan, intent (MMPI) Emotional reasoning, alcohol impair the thinking process

Suicide Suicide attempt - intent to end one’s life Plans range from vague thoughts to elaborate and detailed instructions, letters, etc. Suicide gesture Mimics suicide attempt but… Intent is to change someone else’s behavior Suicide attempt - intent to end one’s life

Suicide By Cop AKA “victim-precipitated homicide.” Subject may attempt to “lure” authorities into the confrontation Often starts as a disturbance call e.g. “man waving a gun around” or “man threatening neighbors with a knife” Initiating event typically is relationship based

Suicide By Cop Subject is usually Male Young Intoxicated Despondent Angry Often has history of prior contact with police Subject resistant to initial attempts at verbal de-escalation ”You are just going to have to kill me”

Suicide By Cop Subject may respond to skillful, persistent verbal de-escalation. Simply repeating commands is not verbal de-escalation Outcome will hinge on Subject’s behavior Level of intoxication Responders’ skill Available resources

Suicide By Cop The “ideal” response would include a CIT/CNT officer, a less-lethal force option (or two), and lethal force. IF THE SUBJECT HAS A FIREARM, ALL COMMUNICATION MUST TAKE PLACE FROM A POSITION OF COVER.

Suicide By Cop Subject’s actions dictates response Lethal force: used in response to credible threat of the same from subject If subject de-escalates threat, any movement in that direction should be reinforced Subject’s actions may be so dangerous that there is no time for negotiation If subject in custody, should be evaluated at mental health facility

Suicide By Cop Don’t let a suicide by cop event lead to the injury/death of an officer.