Proximity to the 9/11 terrorist attack and suicide ideation in police officers

Exposure to traumatic incidents including natural and human-initiated disasters may be an important precipitant for suicide. This article explores suicide ideation in police officers, a reportedly high suicide risk group, who worked in the proximity of the September 11, 2001 (9/11), World Trade Center terrorist attack. Data were obtained for a period of 4 years (2001-2004) from Cop 2 Cop, a statewide New Jersey confidential phone hotline provided exclusively for police officers and their families. Results suggested that calls related to suicide ideation increased from pre-9/11 through 3 years post-9/11 and that the risk for urgent care suicide calls post-9/11 increased 1.65 times (95% confidence interval = 0.54-5.04) more quickly over time when compared to pre-9/11 urgent calls. Qualitative as well as descriptive statistical data are presented on suicide ideation and the impact of 9/11 on the personal and occupational lives of officers who called.