Nearly 20 percent of police officers nationwide have considered suicide, yet 90 percent said they are unlikely to seek mental health treatment. It’s an alarming trend uncovered by an NBC I-Team survey.
Police Protective League Director Steve Gordon says that because of the repetitive stress that officers go through, they often start to break down mentally with symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress syndrome. He is urging officers to seek help from mental health professionals.
“When you’re in the constant state of seeing death and despair all the time, it’s almost like you’re injuring your brain. You’re polluting your brain. We just want them to go out and, hey, fix it. Go talk to people, get it off your chest. Vent a little.”
The NBC-4 I-Team report found 76 percent of the officers surveyed said they were worried that if they asked for mental health assistance they could be fired and 85 percent expressed concerns about being seen as weak or unfit for duty.
Steve Gordon was a guest on the KABC Morning Show.
By Sandy Wells
KABC News
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
