Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has raised concerns that the spike in deaths in the service is a rude awakening to psychosocial challenges amongst some of our young officers. There is no choice but to pay greater attention to it.
Dozens of police officers have died as a result of suicide in a trend that is attributed to stress at work, with most of the officers killing before dying by suicide.
The National Police Service Commission has established a unit to launch counselling services to stop the trend and attend to their demanding situation.
The counselling unit will, among other things, evaluate, design and lead an outreach program that helps prevent mental illness and substance abuse.
The incidents are blamed on work-related trauma as the issue of psychological challenges in the service is confirmed.
The commission’s unit will assist clients and families affected by mental illness, substance abuse and trauma with ways of overcoming the problems.
The unit will also participate in the formulation of counselling policies, regulations and strategies in conformity with the NPS reform plan and participate in the implementation, interpretation and review of counselling services, policies, procedures and systems.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i passed his sincere condolences to their families and friends.
