Officers experience PTSD symptoms at a rate of 17 percent. That figure more than doubles the 6.8 percent rate found in the general population. Only 9.3 percent of officers with mental health conditions seek treatment.
Key Takeaways
- 35% of officers report severe depressive symptoms.
- In 2022, 17% of law enforcement officers reported symptoms consistent with PTSD, compared to 6.8% in the general population.
- Alcohol use disorder affects 25% of officers.
- Suicide rate among law enforcement officers is 54% higher than the general working-age population.
- Only 9.3% of officers with mental illness seek treatment.
Mental health support for law enforcement is still limited, leaving many officers without timely care.
Related reading
01 · Category
Depression and Anxiety18 stats
01
35% of officers report severe depressive symptoms.
02
42% of officers experience high anxiety levels annually.
03
Depression rates among officers are 11% higher than civilians.
04
51% of officers report feeling hopeless frequently.
05
Anxiety disorders affect 34% of law enforcement families.
06
28% screen positive for major depressive disorder.
07
Chronic stress leads to depression in 40% of veteran officers.
08
23% of officers have generalized anxiety disorder.
09
Post-pandemic, depression rates jumped to 39%.
10
Female officers report 32% depression prevalence vs 27% males.
11
45% experience burnout-related anxiety.
12
26% have panic disorder symptoms.
13
Depression comorbid with sleep issues in 37%.
14
29% report moderate-severe anxiety post-shooting.
15
Officers under 30 have 38% anxiety rates.
16
31% lifetime depression in patrol officers.
17
Shift work exacerbates anxiety in 44%.
18
27% have dysthymia (persistent depression).
Interpretation
Depression and Anxiety Interpretation
The grim badge of mental strain is now standard-issue for law enforcement, painting a disturbing portrait where feeling hopeless, anxious, or depressed is statistically more common than not.
02 · Category
PTSD Prevalence20 stats
01
In 2022, 17% of law enforcement officers reported symptoms consistent with PTSD, compared to 6.8% in the general population.
02
Law enforcement officers experience PTSD at rates up to 34% following critical incidents.
03
15-20% of police officers meet criteria for PTSD over their career.
04
Post-9/11 veterans transitioning to law enforcement show 25% PTSD prevalence.
05
22% of officers exposed to child homicide cases develop PTSD symptoms.
06
Female officers report PTSD rates of 18.4%, higher than male counterparts at 12.5%.
07
Officers in high-crime areas have 28% PTSD incidence after shootings.
08
19% of patrol officers screen positive for PTSD on PCL-5.
09
Rural officers exhibit 21% PTSD rates due to isolation.
10
16.5% of officers post-critical incident have probable PTSD.
11
PTSD symptoms persist in 24% of officers 1 year after trauma.
12
13% of new recruits develop early PTSD signs.
13
Officers with multiple deployments show 30% PTSD comorbidity.
14
20.4% prevalence in traffic enforcement officers.
15
Hispanic officers report 23% PTSD rates.
16
18% of SWAT team members have PTSD.
17
Post-shooting PTSD affects 26% of involved officers.
18
14.7% lifetime PTSD in large agency officers.
19
Officers exposed to 5+ traumas/year have 29% PTSD.
20
17.2% current PTSD in mid-career officers.
Interpretation
PTSD Prevalence Interpretation
We're asking our police to be unbreakable guardians while quietly shattering inside, with PTSD rates so alarmingly high it’s clear that the badge often comes with hidden, lifelong scars.
03 · Category
Substance Abuse18 stats
01
Alcohol use disorder affects 25% of officers.
02
20.5% of officers binge drink weekly.
03
Opioid misuse in 11% of law enforcement.
04
15% report prescription drug abuse.
05
Cannabis use for stress in 18% of officers.
06
27% lifetime alcohol dependence.
07
Tobacco use rates 34% vs 16% general population.
08
12% use illicit drugs excluding marijuana.
09
Binge drinking post-trauma in 22%.
10
19% of corrections officers have SUD.
11
Energy drink abuse correlates with 24% caffeine dependency.
12
16% misuse sleep aids.
13
Alcohol as coping mechanism in 31%.
14
PTSD comorbid SUD in 40% of cases.
15
14% cocaine/crack use history.
16
Vaping rates 28% among young officers.
17
21% hazardous alcohol use per AUDIT.
18
Stimulant use for alertness in 17%.
Interpretation
Substance Abuse Interpretation
We are a profession that, while tasked with safeguarding the well-being of others, is simultaneously self-medicating with a dangerous and contradictory arsenal of stimulants to stay alert, depressants to numb the pain, and everything in between just to cope.
More related reading
04 · Category
Suicide and Mortality19 stats
01
Suicide rate among law enforcement officers is 54% higher than the general working-age population.
02
From 2012-2021, over 1,100 officers died by suicide compared to 623 in the line of duty.
03
Police officers have a suicide rate of 17-28 per 100,000, double the national average.
04
41 officers died by suicide in Q1 2023 alone.
05
Male officers' suicide rate is 2.4 times higher than civilians.
06
30% of officer suicides involve firearms from duty belts.
07
Suicide attempts among officers rose 20% from 2016-2020.
08
Veterans in policing have 65% higher suicide risk.
09
Annual officer suicides average 140-170 per year.
10
Female officers' suicide rate increased 15% in last decade.
11
72% of agencies report officer suicides in past 5 years.
12
Suicide is the leading cause of officer deaths since 2011.
13
Officers with 15+ years service have 3x suicide risk.
14
25% of suicides linked to untreated depression.
15
Post-COVID, officer suicides up 10% in 2021.
16
Small departments (<50 officers) have highest per capita suicides.
17
19 per 100,000 suicide rate in corrections officers.
18
50% of officer suicides occur off-duty.
19
Untreated PTSD triples suicide risk in officers.
Interpretation
Suicide and Mortality Interpretation
The badge they wear to protect our communities has become, for a tragically high number of officers, a weight that doubles their own battle against despair, making the call for help their most critical and overlooked duty.
05 · Category
Treatment and Support16 stats
01
Only 9.3% of officers with mental illness seek treatment.
02
85% of officers fear stigma in seeking therapy.
03
Just 4% of agencies have embedded mental health clinicians.
04
Peer support programs reach only 12% of at-risk officers.
05
62% of departments lack formal MH training.
06
Wellness check-ins utilized by 7% annually.
07
EAP usage is 2.5% vs 8% in other professions.
08
78% want confidential counseling but only 15% access it.
09
Post-incident debriefs mandatory in 33% of agencies.
10
Telehealth MH services adopted by 11% of rural departments.
11
Resilience training reduces symptoms in 45% participants.
12
25% of officers unaware of available MH resources.
13
Family support programs in 19% of large agencies.
14
MH screening at hire in 41% of departments.
15
Critical incident stress management used post-event by 52%.
16
Only 6% have 24/7 crisis hotlines staffed by clinicians.
Interpretation
Treatment and Support Interpretation
The system is a ghost town of support, where the overwhelming majority of officers battle their demons alone, terrified of being seen seeking the very help that could save them.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Diana Reeves. (2026, February 13). Law Enforcement Mental Health Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/law-enforcement-mental-health-statistics
MLA
Diana Reeves. "Law Enforcement Mental Health Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/law-enforcement-mental-health-statistics.
Chicago
Diana Reeves. 2026. "Law Enforcement Mental Health Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/law-enforcement-mental-health-statistics.
Sources & references
33 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level