BPD pays tribute to officers who have died by suicide

BOSTON — Patrick Donovan died by suicide six years ago, according to his sister, Kate.

“He was my best friend,” Kate Donovan said of her late brother.

As the nation hears stories of mental health awareness during National Suicide Prevention Week, Boston has taken a step not only to remember those lost but to renew the push to offer help to those in uniform who need it.

“We’re human too,” said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross.

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During a ceremony Tuesday afternoon Gross introduced a new memorial wall featuring images of badges and dates of the deaths of officers who died by suicide. That wall was funded by the Boston Police Foundation.

“You will know that your loved ones didn’t die in sacrifice but they still continue to work,” Commissioner Gross said.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said that six officers have died by suicide since he became mayor in 2013.

“This is a really difficult time for a police officer and to recognize the fallen is really important,” Mayor Walsh said.

In the same installation, there are flyers with resources for officers who struggle with depression or mental illness to make it easier to reach out for help.

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“It means a lot because there is a stigma attached to suicide. We knew him [and] loved him, so we knew more of what was going on with him,” Donovan said.

Six years after her brother took his life, we now have a pandemic, demonstrations against police, violence toward people of color [and] efforts to defund the police, all leading to a heavier burden for officers coping with great stress.

“It’s important that we do everything we can to destigmatize it so that police officers will be more willing to seek help,” said Dr. David Mischoulon, a psychiatrist with Massachusetts General Hospital and Director of the Depression Clinical and Research Program.

Mischoulon said the rate of depression, suicide and alcohol use to cope with depression are higher with police, and the code of silence about their mental health struggles makes it harder to seek treatment.

The Massachusetts Violent Death Reporting System of the Injury Surveillance Program of Massachusetts published the following data regarding suicide by members of law enforcement within the state from 2013 through 2017.

Year Number

2013 13

2014 8

2015 4

2016 12

2017 9

5-Year Total: 46

You are not alone. If you or someone you know is struggling, know there is help. There are local and national resources available.