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Australia; WA
News release
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More than one-third of Western Australia's police officers report symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), new research led by Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found.
The Blue Poppy Study, a collaboration between ECU, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia (UWA), surveyed 1,278 serving police officers, representing almost 20 per cent of the WA Police workforce.
The study found 38.3 per cent of them were experiencing PTSD symptoms, compared with 5.6 per cent of the general Australian population.
Researchers found these outcomes were associated with frequent exposure to traumatic events.
Among those surveyed:
- More than 90 per cent of respondents had seen dead bodies
- Half had attended homicide scenes
- 80 per cent had attended serious traffic trauma
- More than half had witnessed someone die in front of them
- Almost 80 per cent had been exposed to cases involving abused children
- Nearly one in two had been involved in incidents involving guns or knives
The study also identified widespread mental health challenges beyond PTSD.
Almost one in four officers reported severe psychological distress, while nearly half reported low levels of wellbeing.
The findings come as WA police face growing exposure to traumatic incidents, raising urgent questions about the mental health impact of modern policing.
For example, serious assaults across the state have more than tripled over the past 24 years, increasing from 14,198 incidents in 1999-2000 to 48,811 in 2023-24.
ECU researcher and lead author, Dr Daniel Talbot, said the findings highlighted the psychological cost of repeated exposure to trauma.
"This study shows the cumulative impact of trauma can be substantial,” Dr Talbot said.
"Police officers witness events that most Australians will never encounter in their lifetime, often repeatedly over many years of service."
Participants reported that the greatest source of support came primarily from their spouse, followed by their colleagues - while Superiors were rated the least supportive.
“Peer support appears to make a real difference in reducing the impact of trauma," Murdoch University’s Professor Peter Drummond said.
"We can’t eliminate traumatic incidents from policing, but we can ensure officers have the support and resources needed to process those experiences and seek help early."
The Blue Poppy Study is believed to be the first time the prevalence of PTSD in WA's police force has been published.
The researchers hope the findings of this study will be used by service providers and support services to develop programmes and strategies to improve the mental wellbeing of police officers.
"These results demonstrate that psychological injury is not an isolated issue affecting a small number of officers. It is a workforce-wide challenge that requires an urgent response, and police officers need access to effective support, early intervention and evidence-based treatment," ECU's Dr Talbot said.
The Blue Poppy Study: frequency of PTSD in the West Australian Police Force is published online in Australian Psychologist.
