Lives Forever Changed
When an agent dies by suicide lives are forever changed. The trail of devastation that a suicide leave behind is endless. Families, co-workers and friends are often left with many unanswered questions; why, what did I miss, how could they just leave us like this. Research conducted by Julie Cerel PhD, reports that each suicide results in 135 people being exposed. Once the agent has died obviously there is nothing that can change it, but how an agency manages the aftermath will have an impact on many. Once the funeral is over agencies tend to continue business as usually and often times miss the signs that personnel are suffering in silence. Having a postvention plan will not only help the agency but also the family.
On August 16, 2022 President Biden signed the Public Safety Officer Support Act (PSOSA) which recognizes some suicides as line of duty death. This recognition helps reduce the stigma attached to suicide and assists the families and co-workers in their grief journey. Families who lose an agent to suicide are not only emotionally devastated but also their financial situation is significantly impacted. This legislation helps ease some of the financial burden families suffer after their agent has died.
All too often we hear from law enforcement leaders that the agent was having marital problems and this is why they took their own life and because of this they are not willing to file the application for Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB). Rarely is there just one issue that brings about an agent’s suicide. Thousands of people have marital problems and/or get divorced every day and they do not take their own lives. Agencies have to look deeper into the agent’s death because there is a good chance there is more going on than just marital problems. One question that should be asked is, was the agent suffering from PTS or PTSD? The traumas endured by that law enforcement officer could be a contributing source to the marital problems. Agency leaders should support the family, submit the paperwork to PSOB, and let the Department of Justice decide if it meets the criteria. Losing an agent to suicide does not reflect poorly on the agency, so acknowledge the suicide and support the family. What reflects negatively on leaders is when they fail to support the co-workers and the family members and fail to acknowledge that the agent’s death was in some way job related.
After a suicide leaders should make available culturally competent mental health professionals for co-workers to meet with in a place where they feel safe. Schedule various group debriefings with all personnel in a safe and trusted environment. These steps will help significantly reduce contagion suicides and it sends the message that they are supported.
Families who suffer a loss of an agent to suicide need the support of the agency and the co-workers. They just lost their loved one, they can not afford to lose their entire blue family. Ongoing support for years after the agent’s death is a vital component in families finding hope for tomorrow. Staying connected to the family sends the clear message that their agent will not be forgotten and the family’s sacrifice will always be remembered. A phone call, a monthly lunch date, helping with chores around their house, an invitation to an office gathering, or an annual celebration of life event reinforces to the family that they are important and they are not forgotten.
Remember it is the life these agents lived that is important, it is not how they died.
This column from the Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation (SBS) is part of the FEDforum, an initiative to unite voices across the federal community. The FEDforum is a space for federal employee and law enforcement groups to share their organizations’ initiatives and activities with the FEDagent audience.
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