Mental health training held to boost Military Police morale
NATIONAL Military Police Public Relations Commission chief and spokesman Eng Hy said at a meeting on Wednesday that regularly educating Military Police officers to handle the psychological aspects of their job has proven to be a morale booster in performing their duties more effectively.
Hy chaired a video conference about the dissemination of psychological education to the Military Police which was attended by deputy commissioners, deputy chiefs of offices and deputy commanders of the Military Police from 14 of the capital’s districts.
He told The Post that the National Military Police provided psychological education regularly and offered additional education in the event of a crisis like Covid-19.
The education is aimed at strengthening the will and sense of responsibility in Military Police officers. It also imparts knowledge related to global and local development.
Hy said the training has proven to reduce Military Police mistakes because it helps them understand the law and their code of professional ethics. However, he said a small number of officers still committed mistakes and the actions of officers must be closely monitored.
The Military Police forces, he said, must prioritise the protection of citizens and take care of their personal health to avoid the spread of Covid-19 as directed by the Ministry of Health.
“Our job is to disseminate [education] to the leaders, who are the chiefs of departments, chiefs of institutions and commanders of units. We are training them to pass on this knowledge to lower-level officials throughout the country,” he said.
Cambodian Institute for Democracy president Pa Chanroeun, applauded the psychological education programme.
He said Military Police forces often work with ordinary people and need to have a strong understanding of psychology to be effective at their jobs.
“I encourage our police forces to learn about meditation, human rights and democracy to assist them in helping people. It’s also to avoid any cruel or extreme behaviour while they fulfil their jobs as such action could affect the people’s peace and cause anxiety,” he said.
Affiliated Network for Social Accountability executive director San Chey said a good
Military Police officer has to go through many stages of education, qualifications and a rigid selection process. The psychological training is a method to strengthen the minds and bodies of the forces.
Chey suggested that armed forces personnel serve time as monks before joining the Military Police. He said it could educate their minds to become social defenders and worship in a healthy way.
“This is a good example for families and society, and it could increase public recognition of the value of the armed forces. This is a value that Cambodian society wants,” he said.
Chey said people wanted to see armed forces acting appropriately, performing their jobs effectively and maintaining a respectful relationship with society.