This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
Since 2014, an average of five New York City police officers have died each year by suicide, a trend that has continued in 2019 with eight officers taking their own lives.
On Tuesday morning, a 35-year-old off-duty officer was found dead in Yonkers, New York, from a self-inflicted wound, prompting concerns about the mental health of the city's police force.
According to the New York Times, the officer had been with the department for seven years and had no disciplinary issues on his record.
Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill declared a mental health crisis in June and urged officers to seek confidential help from department chaplains, peer support groups, and phone- and text-message hotlines.
However, the department's efforts to address the issue have been met with skepticism, with some officers feeling that seeking help is a sign of weakness.
Researchers have found that police officers are at a higher risk of suicide due to the high stress of the job, peer pressure to keep emotions in check, and constant access to firearms.
