The European comparison on suicides in uniform and the development of a systemic psychological support framework in Italy
Abstract: Safeguarding the psychological well-being of personnel in uniform represents one of the most complex and urgent organizational challenges facing contemporary police forces. Drawing on certified primary sources (OSD, UNARMA, EUROMIL), this study examines the phenomenon beyond the intrinsic limits of initial psycho-aptitude screening, advocating a paradigm shift toward a model of systemic resilience. Through an analysis of stress factors specific to operational settings—with particular attention to territorial proximity—and a comparison with the European context, the paper outlines guidelines for continuous, integrated, and culturally accepted psychological support. The aim is to transform mental health management from an emergency-driven response into a structural pillar of organizational effectiveness and personnel protection. This article was conceived as a constructive contribution to the debate on organizational well-being within the Police Forces. Its aim is to provide a data-driven analysis and to put forward operational proposals, in full awareness of the complexity of the work carried out and of the deep sense of dedication that motivates those who perform it.
Keywords: #SuicidesInUniform #PoliceForces #MentalHealth #OccupationalStress #Prevention #OrganizationalResilience #PsychologicalSupport #CultureOfSilence #PsychologicalScreening #ServiceWeapon #ProfessionalRisk #PublicOrder #InstitutionalSecurity #CommunityPolicing #Carabinieri #StatePolice #PrisonPolice #LocalPolice #ArmedForces #EUROMIL #DataTransparency #Stigma #SecurityGovernance #PersonnelProtection #Institutions #DeborahBreda #EthicaSocietas #EthicaSocietasJournal #ScientificJournal #HumanSciences #SocialSciences #EthicaSocietasUPLI #ItalianLocalPoliceUnion
Introduction: from news reporting to systems analysis
On the night between 31 January and 1 February 2026, in Lamezia Terme, the latest in a series of tragedies unfolded, deeply marking the community of the Police Forces. According to initial investigative reconstructions, Carabinieri Vice Brigadier Bruno Mastroianni, 39, serving in Bovalino and residing in Lamezia, took his own life with his service weapon during a routine traffic stop in Via delle Terme, in the Sambiase district, after pulling over at the request of fellow officers. A few days earlier, on 24 January, another similar tragedy had struck the Carabinieri Corps: a 25-year-old Carabinieri forestry officer, originally from Formia in the province of Latina, was found lifeless in the barracks of Cagnano Varano (Foggia), where he had been serving since October 2025; the body, discovered by colleagues in the service accommodation, suggested a voluntary act involving the service weapon. Both cases, however, remain subject to the final determinations of the competent judicial authorities.
Following the episode in Lamezia Terme, the institutional and social response took shape through public mourning, the initiation of medico-legal investigations, and statements by trade-union representatives, who denounced the persistence of an “deafening silence” surrounding what is now described as a true structural emergency. These events compel reflection that goes beyond the dimension of isolated news reports and calls into question the entire architecture of psychological support systems dedicated to those who perform this delicate public service.
Responding to this need therefore requires moving beyond the search for immediate responsibility in order to embrace a systemic and proactive perspective. In particular, initial psycho-aptitude screening, although fundamental, represents only the first step in a pathway that should accompany the officer throughout their entire career. Accordingly, this study aims to analyse the specific stress factors associated with work in uniform, with particular attention to realities most closely engaged with the territory, and to outline the contours of an integrated model of prevention and support. Such a model should not be perceived as a sanction or a sign of individual weakness, but rather as an essential component of professional competence and organisational strength.
The phenomenon: an unacceptable accounting
The numbers of the decade: 750 lives lost
The Observatory on Suicides in Uniform (OSD) and analyses conducted by UNARMA, by cross-referencing available sources, provide the starkest and most comprehensive picture of the decade 2016–2025: approximately 750 suicides, with an estimated annual average of 75 cases. This represents an unacceptable toll, tracing a timeline of sustained suffering.
Distribution among the corps: a map of suffering
The distribution of cases among the different corps, while acknowledging the partial nature of any data in this field, helps to grasp the transversal scope of the phenomenon:
|
Corps |
Total cases (2016–2025) |
% of total |
Relevant operational specificity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Carabinieri Corps |
224 |
30% |
High-risk missions, 24/7 territorial proximity |
|
State Police |
128 |
17% |
High urban social conflict, “corridor syndrome” |
|
Penitentiary Police |
90 |
12% |
Vicarious trauma from continuous exposure to detention |
|
Local Police |
89 |
12% |
Perceived dequalification, hyper-local political pressure |
|
Guardia di Finanza |
81 |
11% |
Administrative and investigative pressure |
|
Armed Forces (pure) |
138 |
18% |
– |
The weight of the data: rates, peaks and lethality
These figures translate into an estimated incidence rate between 1‰ and 1.3‰, significantly higher than that of the general Italian population (approximately 0.6‰ according to ISTAT). The peak occurred in 2022, with 92 cases: one life lost every four days. A further shocking datum completes the picture: the lethality of the service weapon, used in approximately 82% of cases, dramatically confirming how immediate access to the service firearm can transform a moment of crisis into an almost invariably fatal outcome.
Ultimately, these are not numbers. They are lives. Men and women who chose to serve the State, but whom the system, in its current configuration, has not been able—or has failed—to support when the weight of the uniform became unbearable. This accounting of pain is the non-negotiable starting point of any serious discourse on prevention.
Origins of multidimensional stress
To design effective interventions, it is necessary to decode the unique pressures to which the data point, moving beyond general averages.
The burden common to all uniforms: transversal risk factors
International research, such as the EUROMIL 2022 report, together with national analyses, converge in identifying a core set of transversal risk factors: chronic operational stress stemming from irregular shifts and unsustainable workloads; repeated exposure to traumatic events; access to weapons; and, not least, an organisational culture that too often continues to stigmatise requests for psychological help.
Specific stress: territorial proximity and its weight
A closer examination of specificities reveals additional burdens for corps in close contact with the territory. For the Carabinieri, for example, the 24/7 “front-desk effect” is compounded by the weight of a unique social expectation: being the ethical and order reference point generates intense internalised pressure, and the fear of not living up to the ideal of the “perfect soldier.” Similarly, Local Police constantly experience the balancing act between professional role and the “political weight” of municipal administrations, within a context of daily proximity that may foster a perception of professional devaluation.
The European data wall: opacity as a symptom of stigma
Attempts to situate the Italian case within a comparative European framework encounter a fundamental obstacle highlighted by the EUROMIL 2022 report: the systematic lack of transparency. Approximately 55% of EU countries participating in the survey do not publish data on suicides within armed forces, and 64.7% of trade-union organisations representing personnel have no access to such data. This “data wall” is not a mere administrative detail; rather, it is the institutional symptom of the same stigma that, at the individual level, fuels the “corridor syndrome.” Consequently, opacity prevents accurate diagnosis, comparison of best practices, and ultimately effective prevention.
European case studies and lessons learned
Where data do emerge (e.g. France: ~44 cases/year; Germany: ~18.6/year; UK: ~12/year), they show that no organisational model is immune. Nevertheless, the British experience, associated with structured programmes such as the Blue Light Programme, clearly indicates that investing in visible and accessible support is part of the solution and can yield tangible results.
Initial selection: a necessary but insufficient pillar
In light of these data, the role of initial psycho-aptitude selection must be re-situated. Its value as an initial filter for manifest pathologies is undeniable. However, its structural limits are evident: it is an instantaneous assessment incapable of predicting the cumulative impact of a thirty-year career; suicide remains a statistically rare and difficult-to-predict event; and, above all, selection does not equip individuals with tools to manage chronic stress. In other words, selection is the foundation, not the entire building of psychological protection.
Towards an integrated support model
For all these reasons, the response to continuous wear must take the form of equally continuous, integrated support perceived as an organisational resource. To overcome both Italian shortcomings and the European wall of opacity, a model based on four pillars is proposed:
|
Pillar |
Objective |
Concrete actions |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Continuous and accessible support |
Normalise care for well-being and lower barriers |
On-site psychologists (1:50), anonymous 24/7 helpdesks, non-punitive periodic check-ups |
|
2. Proactive organisational culture |
Transform mental health from taboo to shared value |
Clear communication from leadership, anti-stigma training for commanders |
|
3. Crisis-management protocols |
Immediate responses to critical events |
Mandatory post-traumatic support, voluntary and protected suspension of weapon access |
|
4. Monitoring and continuous improvement |
Policies based on reliable and transparent data |
National transparent data-collection system, evaluation of intervention impact |
This model aims to create an ecosystem of resilience in which support is an integral part of the organisation. In this framework, data transparency—so lacking at the European level—becomes the engine of continuous improvement, enabling both measurement of the problem and assessment of solution effectiveness.
Conclusions: from awareness of pain to the construction of resilience
In conclusion, the estimated 750 names of the 2016–2025 decade, the 92 cases of 2022 alone, and the most recent tragedy in Lamezia Terme are not statistics. They represent the “clear pain” that pierces the “wall of opaque numbers,” both nationally and across Europe. They therefore demand a historic change of course: from the illusion of a perfect filter to the daily construction of support.
Operational specificities—from the territorial proximity of the Carabinieri to the environmental stress of the Penitentiary Police—require tailored responses, but the overall direction is singular: investing in systemic resilience, recognising psychological support as an operational resource on par with technical training.
In sum, the proposals advanced here arise from an awareness of the irreplaceable value of those who serve in uniform and from the desire to contribute to building stronger institutions, precisely because they are better able to care for their personnel. Overcoming the culture of silence, in Italy as in Europe, is not an option: it is the first, indispensable act of a form of prevention worthy of the sacrifice of those 750 lives and of the dedication of those who, every day, choose to protect our collective security.
BIBLIOGRAFIA
Breda, D. (2025a, 9 ottobre). La sindrome del corridoio: quando la divisa pesa sull’anima. Ethica Societas. https://www.ethicasocietas.it/sindrome-del-corridoio/
Breda, D. (2025b, 9 ottobre). Non eroi, ma umani: il dolore nascosto di chi indossa una divisa. Ethica Societas. https://www.ethicasocietas.it/non-eroi-ma-umani-debora-breda/
Breda, D. (2025c, 25 settembre). Oltre la divisa: il contraccolpo emotivo della sindrome da corridoio nei nuclei familiari. Ethica Societas. https://www.ethicasocietas.it/il-peso-della-divisa-debora-breda/
Breda, D. (2026, 11 gennaio). Doppio peso della divisa e doppio pericolo nel silenzio. Ethica Societas. https://www.ethicasocietas.it/doppio-peso-divisa-doppio-pericolo-silenzio/
Difesa Online. (2025, 10 dicembre). Il fenomeno dei suicidi in divisa: dati, riflessioni e testimonianze.
EUROMIL. (2022). Suicide in armed forces: EUROMIL Report 2022. https://euromil.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2201_Suicide_AF_Report.pdf
Fanpage.it. (2026, 31 gennaio). Carabiniere suicida in strada a Lamezia Terme. https://www.fanpage.it/attualita/carabiniere-suicida-in-strada-a-lamezia-terme-era-appena-stato-fermato-dai-colleghi-per-un-controllo/
Il Tascabile. (2026, 13 gennaio). Il silenzio della divisa.
L’Identità. (2025, 1 dicembre). Suicidi in divisa: quaranta solo nel 2025.
Laurus.tv. (2024). Un dramma vissuto nel silenzio del dovere. https://www.laurus.tv/un-dramma-vissuto-nel-silenzio-del-dovere/
Latina Today. (2026). Foggia: suicidio carabiniere forestale provincia Latina.
Osservatorio Suicidi Divisa. (2025). Rapporto Annuale 2025.
OSAPP. (2024, 20 marzo). Suicidi in divisa: una morte ogni 6 giorni. https://www.osappoggi.it/suicidi-in-divisa-una-morte-ogni-6-giorni-nelle-forze-di-polizia-e-forze-armate/
State of Mind. (2018, 29 aprile). Stress in polizia: le strategie di coping e le differenze di ruolo.
State of Mind. (2025, 1 settembre). Psicologia dell’emergenza nelle Forze Armate e di Polizia.
Taiani, E. (2025, 29 novembre). Relazione sul fenomeno dei suicidi nelle forze dell’ordine 2023-2025. UNARMA. https://www.unarma.it/relazione-sul-fenomeno-dei-suicidi-nelle-forze-dellordine-2023-2025/
UK Ministry of Defence. (2023). UK armed forces suicides: Annual statistics 1984-2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics
UNARMA. (2024). Innovazione psicologica delle forze di polizia militari.
LATEST 5 CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE SAME AUTHOR
ONLY IF YOU SCREAM LOUD ENOUGHT: A FLAWED REFORM OF ITALIAN SEXUAL VIOLENCE LAW
DOUBLE BURDEN OF THE UNIFORM AND DOUBLE DANGER IN SILENCE
THE END OF THE WARRIOR AND THE ANGEL: PSYCHOLOGY OF AN IDENTITY IN TRANSFORMATION
PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE IN DIGITAL RELATIONSHIPS
LATEST 5 CONTRIBUTIONS ON SUICIDES IN UNIFORM
ANOTHER INEXPLICABLE SUICIDE IN UNIFORM: A YOUNG AND SUCCESSFUL WOMAN
SUICIDES IN UNIFORM: THE UNSEEN DISTRESS AND THE WEIGHT THAT KILLS
FROM PAIN, PEARLS: THE SILENT METAMORPHOSIS OF THOSE WHO PROTECT US
THOSE VESTS ON THE GROUND. BEYOND DUTY, BEYOND DEATH
THE END OF THE WARRIOR AND THE ANGEL: PSYCHOLOGY OF AN IDENTITY IN TRANSFORMATION
LATEST 5 CONTRIBUTIONS
IRAN AND THE U.S.: NEGOTIATIONS AMID GATHERING STORMS
CUBA BETWEEN SIEGE AND RESILIENCE
Ethica Societas is a free, non-profit review published by a social cooperative non-profit organization
Copyright Ethica Societas, Human&Social Science Review © 2026 by Ethica Societas UPLI onlus.
ISSN 2785-602X. Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0