Suicide among healthcare and public safety workers is nothing new. What is relatively new is the options offered to develop coping skills. It is clearly a result of mental illness which, in the case of people who deal with death on a professional level, comes from the stress of their employment.
An active shooter exhibits his rage outwardly by killing others and then either taking his own life or by ‘suicide by cop.’ The healthcare or public safety worker exhibit their rage internally by taking their own life. The reason(s) for this are: (1) not being able to save everyone from harm; (2) what they see every day in their work life; and (3) the stresses of balancing home and work life.
Over the past decade, massive improvements have come to the forefront with respect to identifying and treating this issue. The problem remains that there is a perception attached to the stigma of seeking help and the desire to be a ‘superhero’ who always saves the day. Employers need to make continuous announcements about the availability of professional assistance and to assure employees that their seeking help will be protected from adverse consequences to their work life.
The reality is that suicide does not resolve the issue(s) of the person suffering. Rather, it transfers those stressors to the people who love them. People need to look out for their fellow workers and make it known that they are a resource to chat or just be an ear to listen.