Petra Skeffington

Policing is undoubtedly a stressful occupation, with officers often facing potentially traumatic situations. They may be exposed to disaster, hostage situations, sexual and physical assaults, shootings, mutilations and death, or face threats to their life.

As a result, police and emergency services workers have elevated rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and suicidal thoughts and actions.

Last night the ABC’s Four Corners program Insult to Injury highlighted how police officers’ claims for compensation and psychiatric treatment for PTSD are being met with scepticism, resistance and lengthy delays.

Perceived stigma, failure to seek help and policing organisations’ failures to support help-seeking have created a melting pot of despair for some officers.