Suicide in Police—A Critical Review
Erlend Hem MD,
Anne Marie Berg MA, Øivind Ekeberg MD,
Corresponding Author
Erlend Hem MD
Department of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
Department of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1111 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway. Tel.: + 47 22 85 10 23. Fax: + 47 22 85 13 00. E-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this authorØivind Ekeberg MD
Department of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
Search for more papers by this authorErlend Hem MD,
Anne Marie Berg MA, Øivind Ekeberg MD,
Corresponding Author
Erlend Hem MD
Department of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
Department of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1111 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway. Tel.: + 47 22 85 10 23. Fax: + 47 22 85 13 00. E-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this authorØivind Ekeberg MD
Department of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Police officers are commonly referred to as a high-risk group for suicide. So far no comprehensive review has been published about epidemiologic studies among police. This article systematically explores the worldwide literature on suicide in police. None of the recent nationwide studies show elevated suicide rates among police. Other studies show inconsistent results. Conclusively, it is not documented that there is an elevated suicide rate in police. A particular problem in previous research has been methodological shortcomings. There is need for further systematic research, and this review points out some strategies of research.
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