NCJ Number
193558
Date Published
2001
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article provides advice on how to identify police officers who exhibit high-risk behavior for covert as well as overt suicide, so as to develop effective preventive measures.
Abstract
The Eighth Annual Mental Measurements Yearbook (Buros, 1978) does not list a single test designed specifically to measure suicide risk; however, there are tests that include scales that identify correlates of suicide or have specific suicide scales. The Beck Depression Inventory identifies depression, which correlates highly with suicidal ideation and suicidal actions. The Beck Hopelessness Scale is also an invaluable tool, since Beck found that hopelessness correlates highly with eventual suicide. The Basic Personality Inventory contains an Impulse Expression Scale that can be used to assess high-risk behavior. A high score on this scale indicates that an individual "is prone to undertake risky and reckless actions; inclined to behave irresponsibly; finds routine tasks boring." Other helpful tests in the diagnosis of risk for suicide are the Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Plates, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and the Firestone Assessment of Self-Destructive Thoughts. These assessment methods can assist in the identification of an officer's high-risk behavior that may result in overt or covert suicidal action. Methods of reducing this risk can include adequate screening of recruits and all officers who request special assignment; training of first-line supervisors to recognize potential problems; tracking high-risk officers; using a peer support system; and employing a police psychologist to do appropriate testing and counseling.