108 police officers diagnosed with mental illness

General News of Saturday, January 19th, 2019

Source: Ghanaian weather

2019-01-19

Last year, about 108 police members were diagnosed with different types of mental health problems due to stress, the Ghanaian Times reported.

Of this figure, four staff members committed suicide by using their draw and hanging, reported the newspaper in its edition of Friday, January 18, 2019.

Foster Nanewortor, a clinical psychologist, revealed this information at a health awareness workshop organized by Accra Regional Command to inform officers of the need to manage stress and its adverse effects.

It was on the theme of "Building a Healthy and Resistant Lifestyle for Effective Maintenance of the Order".

He said that stress is a situation that puts the body in danger and produces a biological response.

According to him, there were three suicide attempts last year, adding that 60% of them resorted to alcohol consumption when they were stressed.

"In recent years, we have seen a tendency for suicide among officers because of the very stressful nature of our work. We must ask them what they can do to reduce their stress to the maximum. the need actually feels, he says.

ASP Nanewortor stated that alcohol use is one of the negative coping mechanisms "in that you are confronted with a situation and you drink alcohol so you can temporarily relieve yourself of the consequences of alcohol abuse." situation, but you create health problems. and this negatively influences the brain. "

What he said could endanger the agent and the general public.

He emphasized the need for more mental health professionals and clinical psychologists across the country to provide effective care to officers with stress. "Right now, I'm the only active clinical psychologist on the ward, and the rest do. other tasks. "

ASP Nanewortor advised officers to relax, unwind and exercise to help the body produce anti-stress hormones that can help keep them in shape and maintain a balanced diet.

The command public relations officer, EfiaTenge, Deputy Police Superintendent (DSP), said the event was part of the police transformation agenda for social protection and career development.

According to her, officers should be mentally and physically healthy, adding that

"We need our police officers to be healthy to produce the maximum results. We believe that this program would greatly badist the police, "she said.