Date

4-29-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Cari Oliver

Keywords

Officer suicide, law enforcement, public perception, mental health literacy, stigma

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Officer suicide remains an underrecognized occupational hazard despite increasing awareness of mental health risks within law enforcement. This quantitative, cross-sectional pilot study examined public perceptions of officer suicide compared to line-of-duty deaths caused by violence or accidents and assessed whether mental health literacy and suicide stigma influenced these perceptions. Grounded in framing theory, stigma theory, the health belief model, and the interpersonal theory of suicide, the study explored how knowledge and attitudes shape legitimacy judgments. A sample of 169 non–law enforcement adults in the United States completed the Mental Health Literacy Scale, the Stigma of Suicide Scale–Short Form, and the Perceived Legitimacy of Line-of-Duty Deaths instrument. Analyses included descriptive statistics, repeated-measures ANOVA, correlational analyses, and multiple linear regression. Results indicated that participants rated officer suicide as significantly less legitimate than line-of-duty deaths caused by violence or accidents. Greater mental health literacy was associated with lower suicide stigma and higher perceived legitimacy, whereas higher stigma was associated with lower legitimacy perceptions. Political orientation and lived exposure were related to mental health literacy but showed limited association with legitimacy judgments. The study provided preliminary psychometric support for the PL-LOD instrument, demonstrating acceptable internal consistency and face validity. Findings underscore the role of stigma and framing and highlight implications for practice and policy.

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