In a private roundtable, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams was joined by NYPD officers, police fraternal organizations and mental health experts in the wake of the rising number of officer suicides.

They spoke about feelings, concerns and moods of officers around the topic of mental health and seeking help through the department.

Williams says he wanted to spark a guiding conversation for officers who need help.

“We are trying to figure out how we are allowing officers to get access to this help without feeling that the department is going to immediately respond, and that was clear throughout the whole discussion,” says Williams.

He says his office is willing to help officers find a safe space to seek help outside of the police department.

So far this year, there have been nine officer suicides.