Det. Thomas Roberts took his own life Friday inside Ottawa police headquarters
The Ottawa #Police Service is set to refocus its efforts on ensuring its members are accessing #mentalhealth supports after an #officer took his life over the weekend.
Det. Thomas Roberts, 35, died by #suicide inside Ottawa police headquarters at 474 Elgin St. on Friday evening.
His death comes almost five years to the day that another #officer, Staff Sgt. Kal Ghadban, died by #suicide inside the same building.
It also comes on the same weekend #policeofficers from across the country are gathering in Ottawa for the #Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day — a day intended to honour those who’ve died in the line of duty.
#JamesDonaldsononMentalHealth –
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
‘A refocused effort’
Now, Ottawa #police want to ensure the programs put in place after Ghadban’s death are working and that members are accessing them without concerns that doing so could affect their employment.
“You’re going to a see a refocused effort by us to make sure we’re supporting the members to remove those barriers,” said Steve Bell, the force’s interim #police chief.
“We’re working with their families to make sure that we can make sure our members come to work whole every day and are as healthy as they can be to do this really tough job.”
After Ghadban’s death, Ottawa #police created a peer support program, a wellness program and an employee assistance program, while also making sure psychologists were easily accessible to those who needed them.
Bell said while the force continues to try to create programs that meet officers’ needs, Roberts’ death on Friday shows “we have more work to do.”
“We send members out every day to go and deal with tragic human suffering. It takes a toll on you,” he said. “We know as a profession, we need to provide all of the supports that we can to make sure that they have a way to go and talk and help to deal with some of those really traumatic incidents.”
#Officers ‘looking for answers’
Incidents like these can be traumatizing for Ottawa #police members, said Matt Skof, president of the Ottawa #Police Association.
“There’s frustration. There’s confusion. At times like this, we have members looking for answers,” Skof said, noting those answers aren’t always available.
Skof also agrees access to support programs remains an issue, largely because of the stigma around #mentalhealth.
“You can have all the programming available, but you have to make sure that there’s buy-in from the members who are going to use it. And that’s something that we’re very conscious of,” he said.
Coroner conducting review
The problem of officers taking their lives isn’t unique to Ottawa police.
In 2018, there were nine #police officer #suicides. The number was considered unusually high and prompted Ontario’s chief coroner to conduct a review.
A panel was convened earlier this year and is set to release its report “very soon,” according to a statement from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario.
Ontario Provincial #Police also announced in August 2018 that it would conduct an internal review of officer #suicides after it found at least 24 active members and nine retired members had taken their own lives over a 30-year period.
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
