War zone trauma hits police in Victoria

War zone trauma hits police in Victoria
Grant McArthur
Melbourne Herald Sun - Australia
May 27, 2008 12:00am


THE trauma of policing Victoria has left more than 100 officers suffering the same illness as soldiers serving in combat zones over the past three years.

In the past year alone 40 Victoria Police officers were struck down with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after attending gruesome homicides, suicides, road crashes and life-threatening situations.

In 2007, 19 WorkCover claims were paid for Victoria Police members suffering the severe stress-related illness. And a specialist war veteran's psychiatric service has taken over the treatment of 40 officers needing help to deal with depression, anxiety, anger and alcoholism in the past three years.

Assoc Prof Mal Hopwood, of Austin Health's Veterans Psychiatry Unit, said the strain of relentless police work could have the same impact as being involved in a war zone.

"What we have found is that many police officers have a very long history of trauma because of the nature of their work, and the trauma that results in them developing PTSD may represent the straw that broke the camel's back," he said.

"Police officers suffer trauma more directly in the line of their employment (than defence force personnel) and that can lead to a differing view about how to best assist police affected by trauma.
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