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Journal article
Blue Poppy study: frequency of PTSD in the West Australian Police Force
Australian psychologist, Vol.61(4), pp.390-401
2026
Abstract
Objective
As exposure of police officers to traumatic incidents has increased in recent years, the aim was to determine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated distress in the West Australian (WA) Police Force.
Method
Participants were 1,278 sworn officers from the Western Australia (WA) Police Force, recruited via advertisements placed in the WA Police Union newsletter. This sample represented approximately 18.5% of the WA Police workforce. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), administered through an online survey platform. This study employed a cross-sectional correlational design. Factors related to PTSD were assessed using a regression analysis. Participants were mostly male (74%), married, over 45 years of age and had 19 years of service.
Results
The prevalence of PTSD in survey participants was 38.3%. Exposure to multiple trauma events was found to be common. Severity of PTSD was predicted by being divorced or widowed and increased exposure to specific trauma experiences: "seeing abused children" and "seeing someone die in front of you". Higher levels of PTSD were also associated with low levels of colleague and supervisor support. Scores on other measures of mental health were somewhat less severe with general distress and wellbeing at moderate levels. Nevertheless, distress levels were high in a quarter of the sample.
Conclusions
The high prevalence of PTSD in the current survey may be due to sampling factors and/or stakeholder engagement. The survey has important implications for meeting the mental health needs of police officers.
Details
- Title
- Blue Poppy study: frequency of PTSD in the West Australian Police Force
- Authors/Creators
- Daniel Talbot - Edith Cowan UniversityPeter Drummond - Murdoch University, Centre for Healthy AgeingChristopher Lee - Murdoch Universtiy
- Publication Details
- Australian psychologist, Vol.61(4), pp.390-401
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- WA Police Union PTSD Research Foundation of WA
- Identifiers
- 991005904175207891
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Psychology; Centre for Healthy Ageing
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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