POLICE —
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER — SUICIDES
316. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the suicide of Darren
Igglesden in October last year at Cockburn Central Police Station and the
recent suicide of my friend Dave Curtis in Kalgoorlie.
(1) What is the
government doing to address post-traumatic stress disorder issues for our
operational police officers?
(2) Is the
government considering any new operational procedures to tackle PTSD for
currently serving police officers?
(3) Is the
government considering any new legislation to reduce the stigma associated with
mental health conditions for our police?
(4) If no to (3),
why not?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police.
(1)–(4) It would appear from the preamble that the
honourable member has chosen to link the deaths of two serving officers
to post-traumatic stress disorder. If the honourable member would like to ask
the questions without the preamble, the minister will be more than happy to
provide an update on initiatives being taken by the Western Australia Police
Force to address PTSD.