Drama in Mayotte: A Mobile Gendarme Found Dead
Mayotte - This Friday, July 19, 2024, a mobile gendarme on mission in Mayotte was found dead in her hotel room, near Trévani beach, in Koungou, the second most populated commune of the archipelago, located north of Mamoudzou. The macabre discovery was made by chambermaids.
Discovery and Hypotheses
According to initial information relayed by Mayotte la 1ère, a weapon – probably the service weapon of the soldier – was found near the body. This element leads investigators towards the possibility of suicide, a hypothesis currently favored by the Mamoudzou public prosecutor's office. The public prosecutor of Mayotte, Yann Le Bris, confirmed this orientation to Mayotte Hebdo.
A Repeated Case of Drama
This is the second suicide of a mobile gendarme in Mayotte this year. On the night of 3 to 4 January, gendarme Boris C., 31, from the EGM 24/2 in Bayonne, also killed himself with his service weapon in similar circumstances, in the neighbouring village of Kangani. His disappearance deeply moved his comrades, both current and former.
L'Essor reports that this death could be the eighth suicide of a gendarme in 2024. The situation highlights the psychological challenges that law enforcement officers face. In response, various support systems are available for gendarmes.
Support Devices Available
Since January 1, 2009, 356 gendarmes have committed suicide. According to the Ministry of Health, the suicide rate in France is 14 per 100,000 inhabitants. For the National Gendarmerie, this rate is 24, almost twice as high. Police officers and gendarmes are the second profession with the highest number of suicides in France, after agricultural professions.
Gendarmes can contact the Institution's psychological support network , made up of 39 clinical psychologists in mainland France and overseas since 2016. Doctors from the Army Health Service (SSA) are also available to assist them. A helpline recently opened by the Ministry of the Interior can be reached at 0800 95 00 17, every day from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., including weekends and public holidays. An email address is also available: policiers-victimes@interieur.gouv.fr . A psychological support unit available 24 hours a day for law enforcement can be reached at 0805 230 405. Calls are anonymous, confidential and free.
The 3114 line is a privileged point of contact for suicide prevention. Confidential and free, it helps meet the immediate needs of people seeking help: listening, assessment, intervention, emergency, guidance or crisis monitoring. It is available 24/7 in 12 centers spread across the region, with 5 additional centers planned.
To report a situation of harassment or cyberbullying , you can contact 3020 or 3018. Online exchanges are also monitored to prevent harassment, whether on public forums or private social networks.
Outside the Institution, several listening services exist for people in suicidal crisis, such as the national suicide prevention number (3114), accessible free of charge 24 hours a day, and the SOS Amitiés association, reachable at 09.72.39.40.50 or via an online chat. The Ministry of Health and Prevention lists the majority of these services, offering advice and contacts for families and loved ones bereaved by suicide.
This case highlights the persistent psychological challenges in law enforcement and the importance of psychological support systems. The community is mobilizing to provide essential assistance to gendarmes in difficulty.