The U.S. Attorney’s Office has launched an online messaging campaign in September during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month to highlight the importance of law enforcement wellness and suicide prevention.

This follows the death this week of Danbury Police Sgt. Drew Carlson of a self-inflicted gun shot wound.

According to Badge of Life, more officers die of suicide than from gunfire and traffic accidents combined.  The Police Suicide Study estimates that an average of 130 law enforcement suicides occur per year, which is more than ten per month.  The mission of Badge of Life is to lessen the impacts of both stress and trauma, the latter of which in particular can lead to post traumatic stress disorder and police suicide.

U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly says the statistics are sadly not surprising when considering the relentless demands and undeniable toll of the job.  Police work draws people of exceptional courage and humility. But Daly says far too many officers suffer in silence unable to seek the help they need.

Over the course of the month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will disseminate messages via social media using the hashtag "OfficerWellness".