Suicide Prevention Programs

Inside and outside of the Police Department, there are many avenues for help:

 

POPPA (Police Organization Providing Peer Support) offers free, confidential assistance and counseling.

 

Active members of the service call 1 (800) COPS-COP or (888) 267-7267.

 

The Retiree Hotline is 1 (800) 599-1085.

 

To volunteer as a counselor call (212) 298-9111.

 

POPPA now has a Military Support Group open to active and retired NYPD Officers with military service, and it meets the first Wednesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 32 Broadway in Manhattan.

 

POPPA hosts Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) workshops for caregivers who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. A caregiver can be anyone: professional; paraprofessional; or concerned individual who is interested in reducing suicide. ASIST is a two-day (15 hours) intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize risk and learn how to intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. A certificate of completion will be issued. To learn about the ASIST program go to www.livingworks.net

 

All training will be held at the POPPA office located at 32 Broadway. Call POPPA at (212) 298-9111 for dates of workshops and to register.

 

The Police Self Support Group is at (718) 745-3345.

 

The Employee Assistance Unit of the NYPD is located at 90 Church Street, 12th Floor, Suite 1213 in Manhattan, at (646) 610-6730.  A new, pilot program of the EAP offers family members of MOS — spouses and children — free, confidential counseling for stress, anxiety, depression, or other emotional issues and social service needs, alcohol and substance abuse, and other personal issues. Counseling will be available in person or over the telephone. Citywide EAP counselors are available at (212) 306-7660.  The Citywide EAP office is located at 250 Broadway, 28th floor, Manhattan, but call first to arrange an appointment.

 

Or email [email protected]

 

Or visit their website at www.nyc.gov/eap

 

The NYPD Counseling Service Unit (for alcohol/substance abuse related issues) has moved to a new location at 25 Elm Place in Brooklyn. Their phone number during regular business hours is (718) 840-5535.

 

The Chaplain’s Unit of the NYPD is at (212) 473-2363.  Crisis Text Line Text “Talk” to 741-741; Life Line (800) 273-8255

 

NYC Well information is located at www.NYC.gov/nycwell

 

Get more information by visiting www.NYPDnews.com/AreYouOk

 

There’s also a link to a video that can be shared on social media:

 

ConQueR (Connect Question Respond) is a suicide awareness and intervention program for law enforcement professionals. This no-cost training examines suicide by numbers, dispels myths, identifies early indicators, teaches basic listening skills that are used to connect with the suicidal person, instructs how to ask directly about suicide, and explores methods of intervention. The program is designed to improve “suicide self-efficacy” and make LEOs more ready, willing, and able to engage with their suicidal partner or co-worker.

 

Classes are held at 1110 South Avenue in Staten Island.

 

News classes are added regularly. For more information, visit www.conquersuicide.org

 

Talk to Me Post Tour (TTMPT)’s founder and president, Robyn Cannariato, is a retired NYPD Police Officer and licensed clinical social worker who has deep expertise in critical incident stress debriefing. She helped to create the NYPD’s Early Intervention Unit and has been assisting law enforcement and their families for decades. Chris Hetherington, also retired NYPD and former Deputy Commissioner, Homeland Security Liaison, New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYC OEM), serves as vice president and co-founder.

 

More information about the organization and its executive and board leadership can be found at https://ttmpt.com/team/

 

TTMPT currently provides online peer support to active and retired first responders. Camaraderie and support are key components of the program. TTMPT was developed to help recognize and reduce the incidence of PTSD among police officers by providing them with an accessible and safe environment to “process” the often-traumatizing experiences they encounter. The program has operated with volunteer support and leadership with online groups run by trained peer facilitators.