Recent studies have highlighted the alarming mental health challenges faced by members of the Security Forces in Spain, particularly those working under high-stress conditions.
With suicide rates among officers three times higher than the national average, experts are increasingly focusing on the psychological well-being of these professionals. In recent months, two Civil Guard officers in the province have tragically taken their own lives, one of whom had been on sick leave due to depression.
This has drawn attention to the mental health issues plaguing emergency service teams, as between 25 and 30 officers die by suicide each year, while the national average is about 11 suicides per day.
Federico Gómez Sáez, a retired local police superintendent, explains that the suicide rate among police forces is significantly higher than the general population, with some forces, like the Civil Guard, seeing rates as high as 15%.
Gómez notes that many officers suffer in silence, avoiding seeking help due to the stigma associated with mental health issues in law enforcement. He argues that officers often deny their health problems, leading to greater suffering.
To address these concerns, the University of Alicante recently presented the Manual of Good Practices in Police Health and Wellbeing. This guide was developed to identify potential risks and create preventive measures for emergency service professionals.
The pandemic underscored the need for mental health support, a need that has been further emphasized by recent traumatic events, such as the flooding disaster in Valencia, which has resulted in many officers requiring psychological care.
Mental health-related sick leave has increased significantly in recent years. From 35,000 cases in 2018, the number of mental health-related sick days in Spain rose by 84% to 66,000 in 2024. Emergency teams are disproportionately affected, with many cases previously hidden now coming to light.
This study aims to provide support mechanisms to help officers recognize and address mental health issues before they escalate into more serious conditions.
The study’s focus on eliminating the “hero” stereotype in law enforcement, which discourages officers from seeking help, is essential to breaking the stigma around mental health.
This effort was initiated after the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on tackling stress, anxiety, and depression that, if left untreated, could develop into chronic conditions like PTSD, ultimately affecting job performance.
The recent flooding disaster in Valencia has further highlighted the psychological toll on officers. Many of them witnessed devastation in their own communities, leading to a “double victimization” as both first responders and residents.
Officers reported heightened stress from long working hours, lack of resources, and exposure to traumatic events such as rescuing people from flooded homes and encountering bodies swept away by the floodwaters.
A major risk factor in police suicides is access to firearms. In fact, up to 86% of law enforcement suicides in Spain involve firearms. Police officers, especially those with more than 18 years of service, are most at risk, often suffering from untreated mental health issues, depression, and stress from exposure to violence and traumatic situations.
These challenges are compounded by an organizational culture that discourages vulnerability and seeking psychological support.
To help combat this issue, experts recommend dedicating more resources to mental health care for law enforcement and breaking the “code of silence” that discourages officers from seeking the help they need.
