Regular screening reduces cases of police mental issues

The number of police officers suffering mental breakdown has dropped due what experts attributed to regular screening.

According to Dr Vincent Makokha the director Chaplaincy, Counselling and Psychosocial Support at Kenya Police Service, the challenges the officers face are normal human difficulties.

“Family problems, personal management challenges; and sometimes relationship problems are issues facing many Kenyans, and not necessarily police officers,” said Makokha.

He was speaking to journalists during the mental wellness and counselling conference at the weekend.
However, he noted that sometimes there are work-related problems, and when officers get out there, and despite the efforts they have put in their undertaking, they are not appreciated.

Weighs heavily

“Sometimes it weighs heavily on some officers,” he said.

And to put this in perspective, he gave an example of the period between 2015 and 2017 when mental health cases were high. But again, that was before the directorate handling such issues was established.

“In 2015, 2016 and 2017 we had a lot of shootings, and many other related problems but because we have put in place a mechanism to deal with the challenges, the cases are really going down on a regular basis.

However, for this to succeed, first, the mental wellness experts will address the issue of stigma, so that those who are hiding, are able to come out where they will be able to be screened and referred to the right place.