Even before this year’s shocking number of officer suicides, the Department of Investigation (DOI) says it knew that mental health was an issue it needed to address.

"The tragedies of this calendar year really just presented a heightened urgency," said DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett.

The DOI has released a new report that was two years in the making. It found that cops currently on patrol and those who have retired need more services and safe guards.

There's concerns those dealing with job and emotional stress, deaths in their families or substance abuse may not be getting the help they need.   

"Roughly a quarter of the respondents said that while they were serving on active duty in the department that they had an incident that caused them a significant amount of mental health strain," said Garnett.

Only a third of those individuals actually reported seeking any assistance. 174 officers who retired in 2016 were surveyed.

For its report the DOI asked retired officers 18 questions about their mental health and support services from the police department.

The DOI is making 12 recommendations to the NYPD. Among them: cops need training on mental health beyond what they receive when they first enter the police academy.

DOI also suggests increased staffing of NYPD health and wellness experts, outside professionals should audit the NYPD's training on the issue and the department should do a better job identifying officers in crisis.

"Having police officers who can operate at optimum judgment, discretion and decision making is a key public safety issue that all New Yorkers should be concerned about," Garnett said.

The police department says it accepts all of the recommendations and has already started to implement some.

DOI says it found retiring cops need support with facing the fact they will no longer being wearing an NYPD uniform.

In addition to the nine officers who have committed suicide this year, at least two retired cops have taken their own lives.