Our nation is grappling with a mental health crisis exemplified by a disturbingly high number of suicides that leave far too many loved ones grasping for answers.
Suicide rates in this country are among the highest we’ve ever endured, rising 37% since 2000. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest numbers show nearly 50,000 people died by suicide last year, putting the rate on par with the prior year. It is a leading cause of death for those age 64 or under. And for every person who ends their life, another 30 try and another 275 seriously consider it, according to CDC data.
First responders who face daily traumas and stressful situations are at unique risk of suicidal thoughts and actions: More police officers die from suicide than are killed in the line of duty by gunfire or traffic accidents.
More than 1,200 first responders have died by suicide across the country in the last six years. Tragically, Illinois has among the highest number of first responder suicides, according to FIRST H.E.L.P., which works to end the stigma around first responders seeking help.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. First responders disproportionately face stressful and traumatic situations — because we need them to do so. Studies show police are exposed to approximately 178 critical incidents in a career while the public is exposed to an average of three traumatic experiences in a lifetime.
The mental health impact of those events is something we don’t discuss enough in law enforcement circles. But studies clearly demonstrate officers develop post-traumatic stress disorder and depression at higher rates than the public.
At the Cook County sheriff’s office, we have worked hard to support officers and eliminate the stigma around seeking treatment. We’ve invested heavily in a peer support team that includes licensed professionals who proactively reach out to the office’s thousands of brave officers who secure the Cook County Jail, protect courthouses and patrol police beats.
But we must do better. That is why I wrote legislation that passed this year to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for counseling for first responders, including police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, 911 operators and emergency medical services personnel.
Even a $35 out-of-pocket cost per session adds up to more than $1,800 a year for weekly therapy. Such expense creates an unnecessary hurdle, especially in a profession saddled with a culture that shuns seeking help. It is also a slap in the face to public servants who society expects to handle dangerous situations daily in a faultless manner.
Many others agreed, including nearly every state lawmaker and the governor. Sponsored by state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, and state Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, D-Chicago, the legislation was backed by first responders, mental health organizations, social workers and psychiatrists.
The new rule will take effect June 1, and I’m asking first responder agencies and the public to act now in making sure our police, firefighters, dispatchers and EMS personnel know about this lifesaving benefit.
They should be encouraged — now — to get help, even if they believe they can manage it all on their own. Therapy works: Even for those who have attempted suicide, short-term counseling alone was shown in a key study to reduce future attempts by 25%.
I’ve dedicated my career to elevating our discussion about mental health and the devastating impact of our government’s disinvestment in treatment. The repercussions of that failure permeate our entire criminal justice system – whether it involves those who cycle through the jail or those on the frontlines enforcing our laws, supporting victims and ensuring public safety.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please immediately contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org.
Thomas J. Dart is sheriff of Cook County.
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