Suicide spike in NZ Police

I'm deeply saddened to bring you distressing news of another suicide on the New Zealand police front line. This marks the third such tragedy in just one month. Last month, we also witnessed two suicides among our frontline officers, and yesterday, we received the heartbreaking news of yet another loss, this time in Wellington. These incidents weigh heavily on our hearts, especially considering that in July 2023, we prophetically spoke about the issue of suicide on the frontline of our police force during an interview with Radio New Zealand. You can listen to that interview here.

As the managing director of Hatikvah Blue Hope Foundation, I must express our deep sorrow and concern about this increasing trend of suicides among our police officers. Our charity's primary focus has always been the health, safety, and wellness of both serving and retired police workers. Our overarching vision is to achieve zero suicides within the New Zealand Police, firmly believing that a healthy police service benefits the nation.

Over the past two years, our Foundation has diligently worked to manage injured police workers through ACC, employing modern occupational health techniques. We've also fiercely advocated for improved rights for police workers, consistently lobbying the government for changes that will protect frontline police rights. We maintain a close working relationship with government agencies such as WorkSafe NZ, ACC, and the Ministry of Health to address these crucial issues.

Despite our tireless efforts and the warnings we've sounded in the past, the number of suicides among our frontline police officers remains distressingly high. This recent loss reminds us of the urgent need for substantial action and change.

Our thoughts go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of the officers we've tragically lost. In this difficult time, we must all take a moment to reflect on what more can be done to support our dedicated police officers. Our mission at the Foundation to ensure the well-being of police officers is now more critical than ever, and we must redouble our efforts to bring about positive change.

In the face of this distressing news, we urge everyone to join us in raising awareness, advocating for change, and providing comprehensive support to our police frontline. Please share this message on our Facebook page, LinkedIn, and Twitter to inform our supporters and the public about the ongoing challenges and our unwavering commitment to this critical cause. Together, we can make a difference and work towards our shared goal of zero suicides within the New Zealand Police. #SupportOurPolice #WellnessMatters #ZeroSuicideNZPolice #FairBlue