Mr Tinley questions the WA Police regarding PTSD statistics among officers. The Minister responds that specific PTSD statistics aren't kept, focusing instead on mental illness retirements and preventative programs.

AnsweredQoN 1965Legislative Assembly
Asked
18 March 2014
Portfolio
Police

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Do Western Australian Police keep statistics on the number of officers, or former officers who have suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and if not, for what reason? (2) Does the Minister agree that statistics on occurrences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder should be kept by Western Australian Police, and if not, why not? (3) Will the Minister table current statistics on occurrences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Police Force, and if not, why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
6 May 2014
Responded by
Minister for Police
Response time
49 days
(1) No. However, statistics are maintained on the number of officers who medically retire with a diagnosed mental illness.
PTSD can be evident at the same time as other mental health disorders which makes it difficult to distinguish if it has contributed to an officer's distress or impairment.
(2) It is better to focus on preventative programs on how to deal with organisational stress in the workplace and strategies to reduce the stigma around seeking appropriate assistance. Statistics gathered from these types of programs would provide evidence based strategies in building resilience, recognising and treating psychological difficulties early, before they develop into PTSD.
(3) Not applicable.

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