Australia: PTSD and Police

Police in trauma hot seat - officers leaving will illness
Nicole Cox, police reporter

May 08, 2009 10:00pm
THE trauma of police work in WA has forced hundreds of officers to quit with illnesses similar to soldiers serving in combat zones.

WA Police figures reveal that in the past decade 377 officers and staff have retired on grounds of ill-health after attending horrific homicides, suicides, road crashes and life-threatening situations.

Of those, 219 quit or were forced to retire because of psychological conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, while 126 suffered physical injury.

WA Police would not reveal how many serving officers were now undergoing treatment for work-related post-traumatic stress.

Experts say the strain of relentless police work and exhausting hours has the same impact as working in a war zone.

Post-traumatic stress disorder expert David Mutton told The Sunday Times the psychological effects of policing were similar to those experienced by soldiers.

``The incidents that affect police are ones where they are put in a situation of extreme danger ... or ones that are overwhelmingly gruesome -- multiple fatalities and nasty homicides,'' Mr Mutton said.

``It's a combination of danger, stress, grief and the underlying desire by police to control situations.
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Police in trauma hot seat