The death of Michael Deutrom, a veteran police officer who served for over two decades, has brought attention to the mental health challenges faced by law enforcement personnel. Deutrom, who struggled with anxiety, depression, and suspected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), tragically took his own life in early 2022, one of three Northern Territory (NT) Police officers to do so during that period. The coronial inquest into his death, which began in May, is intended to explore the work-related stresses he suffered and the NHS care he received for his mental health conditions.
Justin Sykes, Deutrom’s general practitioner, who provided active and ongoing mental health treatment. In the course of those sessions, Deutrom opened up about suicidal ideation on two separate occasions. He reported hallucinations during one visit. There were still very troubling warning signs. Dr. Sykes decided not to make a same-day referral to a psychiatrist. In hindsight, he agreed that was the critical step he should have taken.
Mental Health Struggles and Lack of Support
Deutrom suffered extreme mental health issues after being a part of a fatal police shooting incident in November of 2019. This traumatic home invasion deeply impacted his psychological health for years. Dr Sikes noted that police officers exhibited a marked increase in distress in the years following this incident. He stated, “I was getting many, many police in a lot of distress — and this was in the context of two years post-November 2019.”
The inquest has heard that the culture that made Deutrom “unsafe” is endemic within the NT police force. Dr. Sykes described this culture as “rotten,” stating, “This is a rotten culture within the NT police force [at the time], that sacrificed very good people.” The systemic issues within the police force have raised serious concerns about how officers are supported when facing psychological challenges.
Too many officers, especially the most junior and least experienced ones were deployed to isolated and often hostile environments with inadequate resources. Dr. Sykes remarked, “I had very junior police [officers] going to very remote, very challenging places; they were being burnt out and coming back as wrecks.” The absence of quality mental health care and a supportive system has positioned our officers in the line of fire from acute psychological trauma.
Calls for Change in Police Culture
The coronial inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding Deutrom’s death. Additionally, it has been looking into the bigger picture of how police departments are providing mental health support to police and civilians. During an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kumanjayi Walker, NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage found NT police were institutionally racist. Her findings, particularly on the culture of the SFPD, raised alarming red flags. It’s a positive sign that this current investigation is yet another sign of an increasing understanding of the urgent need for reform from within the force.
Dr. Sykes herself has stressed that effectively addressing the mental health treatment of officers needs to extend beyond changing prescription pads. As he explained, “They don’t have a magic bullet either,” which means that a complex approach will be needed. After some discussion, he recommended I up my dosage of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) med. This simple change could have big impacts on the outcomes for people like Deutrom who are at risk for suicide.
Addressing the mental health crisis facing police officers is a dangerous, urgent and long overdue call to action. The current public inquest into Deutrom’s death uncovers a strong need for systemic changes. It emphasizes the need for more robust support systems to address mental health crises among law enforcement.
A Step Towards Healing
The coronial inquest continues. It provides a critical opportunity for the NT Police service to introspect and reform. The tragic loss of Michael Deutrom underscores a grim reality. Officers who face chaotic and potentially traumatizing scenarios every 24 hours should have a clear and immediate pathway to mental healthcare.
