By: Heidi Goitia
MESA, AZ — It has been just more than a month since Mesa #Police #Officer Mitchell Winters died by #suicide at the age of 23.
According to Blue HELP, an organization dedicated to the #mentalhealth of #firstresponders, he is one of 154 in this country who have taken their lives this year.
The Washington Post calls #policeofficer suicides a “quiet epidemic.”
It’s a number that retired #police #Officer Robert Taylor nearly added himself to.
“For me it was either I was going to end up killing myself or if I wanted to stay in this career that’s what it was going to come down to,” he said.
Taylor’s career started off strong, first serving with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office then as a deputy in Pinal County, followed by the Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment.
He says the demands of the job were expected, knowing he would most often interact with people on their worst days. And while the resulting heroics were celebrated, trauma calls didn’t always end well and the emotional impact left behind from that is NOT expected.
In Taylor’s case, he says while serving with Fort McDowell #police, that impact was not to be discussed.
“I had a supervisor on scene at one of my incidents who actually watched me react in a way that’s not normal for someone to react. It involved a #child drowning and his exact reaction at that time was pick it up and move on.”
Like many #firstresponders, Taylor found himself struggling mentally and turning to #alcohol to escape his reality. He tells ABC15 drinking heavily was the only way he could get himself to sleep.
He finally worked up the courage to ask for help but instead of being met with compassion, he says he was met with ridicule.
“I was told some terms and you know they still make jokes back at my old agency like ‘oh, better be okay you’re gonna go pull a Taylor’.”
#James Donaldson notes:
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
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
Celebrating Your Gift of Life:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
According to #psychologist Katherine Kuhlman, Taylor’s story is all too common.
She specializes in treating #police and public safety #officers.
“When I heard about the Mesa #policeofficer I thought, not another one,” she said.
She says the accumulation of traumatic events can change #behaviors and can’t be ignored but the job itself isn’t the only thing causing emotional trauma.
We, the people these #officers have committed to serving, are also to blame.
“We know that more #officers die by #suicide than in the line of duty every year. Is it surprising? No. Especially in the last two years #officers went from being front line heroes to being vilified. All in a matter of weeks.”
She says many of the #officers she treats are embarrassed to say what they do for a living creating what she calls the perfect storm for #suicide.
In 2018 after hitting rock bottom and finally getting help, Taylor retired.
“I was 31 when I turned in my retirement papers. It sucked. It was the worst feeling in the world. It was my identity, it was who I was.”
Here is a list of just some of the resources available for law enforcement and other #firstresponders when it comes to #mentalheath:
The Fort McDowell #PoliceDepartment says it heavily denies many of Taylor’s claims in this story. The department’s full statement in response is below:
“The Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation #PoliceDepartment has always made its #lawenforcement #officers’ #mental and physical health a priority. The Nation’s #PoliceDepartment makes available a number of resources for its officers, including providing on-staff trained peer counselors, conducting in-depth debriefings after serious incidents, and referring officers to the Nation’s Employee Assistance Program. The #PoliceDepartment disagrees with Mr. Taylor’s statements and is saddened by his characterization of our response to his needs.
Regards, Tom Gonzales, Sergeant/Acting Chief of #Police”
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
