‘Beef up counselling unit to tackle mental health issues among cops’
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has urged the police to strengthen its counselling unit to tackle mental health issues at the early stages among the men in blue.
The Health Ministry’s Mental Health Promotion Advisory Council member said by strengthening the counselling unit in the force, it could help to minimalise suicidal cases.
“Policemen are working under stressful conditions and it is therefore important that their mental wellbeing must be taken into consideration.
“To my knowledge, there is a counselling unit in every state police contingent headquarters to help policemen who are depressed, and those who have mental health issues.
“With the rise in these (suicidal) cases, the mental wellbeing of members of the force must be given serious attention. The police should beef up its counselling unit and have more manpower in this unit,” Lee told the New Straits Times yesterday.
It was reported that a police corporal and his 7-year-old son were found dead with gunshot wounds in a car in Taman Sentosa Jaya, Seremban, around 6.55pm yesterday.
Police believe the policeman had shot his son before he committed suicide.
Police were still investigating the reason behind the murdersuicide but it is believed to be due to a family problem.
Meanwhile, Lee advised policemen who had mental issues to come forward to get help.
“If they have any mental health issue, they should come forward early. They should bring it to the attention of their head of department (HoD), so the HoD could refer them to counsellors.
“Everyone can be depressed, what more the police force. They work under stressful conditions. People who are depressed need help and help must be given to them as suicide cases can happen anytime.
“So, it is important for policemen who face any mental health issues to come forward. Don’t wait till the last minute, when they choose to do something very tragic.
“My advice to all the policemen out there, don’t be shy. Don’t be stigmatised. Some of them don’t want their department to know they have mental health problems. So if they can come forward earlier, they will be given help, their lives can be saved,” he said.