Wellness Must Become a Feature of Police Activity at Every Level – Security Minister

Wellness must become a feature of police activity at every level, says Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang.

Addressing a mental health symposium, held at the National Police College of Jamaica in St. Catherine on October 8, Dr. Chang said police officers are called first in many panic or emergency situations, even when they are not on duty, and they must get the necessary support to remain fit for daily challenges.

“Literally, you put a police officer on a kind of 24-hour alert at all times, which if not managed, can expose them to serious health problems. We have to take steps to correct that, so wellness must become a feature of police activity at every level in the Jamaica Constabulary Force,” the Minister said.

The symposium was held under the theme ‘Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace’.

Dr. Chang pointed out that along with training in general policing, officers are being equipped to deal with people who are challenged by severe mental health issues, and they need the skills to “look at the total environment, so that they can protect themselves from the kind of pressures that they will meet”.

“It is a most demanding job and getting courses that can sensitise how to recognise and deal with mental health issues is crucial to ensure effective police work and having internal protocols for the well-being of the officers are part of the institutional mechanisms of the Force,” the Minister outlined.

Dr. Chang said that inadequate mental health can lead to decreased performance, absence from work, and it is important that officers are always mentally alert, as they work long hours in a consistently high-stress environment, making split-second decisions while managing community conflicts.

Meanwhile, World Mental Health Day will be observed on October 10, to raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage efforts to support those persons being beset with the challenge.

Observance of the Day commenced on October 10, 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health.

Since then, it has been observed every year with the aim of raising awareness in the global community about critical mental health agendas through collaboration with various partners to take action and create lasting change.

Over the years, this day has gained momentum, becoming a platform for governments, organisations and individuals to develop initiatives that focus on various aspects of mental healthcare.