02anonfinding

Contributing factors

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder from cumulative occupational trauma witnessed during 25-year police career
• Bipolar Disorder (Type 1)
• Depression and persistent suicidal ideation
• Non-compliance with lithium medication despite appropriate prescribing
• Consumption of significant quantity of alcohol (BAC 0.203) with disinhibiting effect
• Alcohol combined with medications likely worsened disinhibition and impaired impulse control
• Possible disappointment regarding return to work restrictions

Coroner's recommendations

1. Give careful consideration to the recommendations contained in the report 'Investigation into NSW Police Suicide: A Review of Lake Macquarie Local Area Command' (March 2008)
2. Implement a system for screening senior police officers (10 years plus service) on a regular basis (at least every 5 years) to check mental health status, conducted confidentially with an independent contractor, focusing on major depressive illnesses, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders
3. Introduce a service-wide scheme where families of police officers attend education sessions on the welfare of officers, warning signs and symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental disorders, and rehabilitation services available to officers and their families
4. Institute a system to ensure service providers operating under the Employee Assistance Programme are made familiar with NSW police work and the pressures under which police officers operate through a process of orientation
5. Advise members of the Austral Psychological Society of the need to keep contact details of their patients' next of kin and emergency contacts for use in times of emergency