KUALA LUMPUR – The government has been aware of the declining mental health among armed Royal Malaysia Police personnel from as early as 2015, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed to the Dewan Rakyat today.
Speaking during the minister’s question-and-answer session at Parliament today, Saifuddin admitted that while the ministry has been in the know of suicidal inclinations among police officers, the number of such cases is “relatively small”.
“To be completely honest, we admit that recently there has been a tendency for police personnel to resort to suicide. (The tendency) was detected around 2015 (or) 2016.
“Immediate steps (to address the matter) were implemented, despite how the number (of such incidents) can be considered small and low compared to 130,000 members of the police force,” he said.
He also said, however, that while the occurrences of fatal cases related to worsening mental health are “isolated”, the ministry’s priority lies in ensuring that there is no repeat of similar incidents.
Referencing two “high-profile” cases this year which saw police officers harming themselves or their family members, Saifuddin, who is also PKR secretary-general, said that the ministry emphasises implementing data-driven policies to monitor and better the mental health state of police officers.
“We are only three months into 2023 but there have been several high-profile cases (of police forces causing harm). All of this has been recorded by police authorities.
“Currently, a mental and psychological health screening study is being conducted from January to June this year.
“Last year, we completed an analysis on negative and positive emotions involving nearly 26,000 police members to act as a guide before they are assigned to any duties,” he noted.
Earlier this month, it was reported that a police lance corporal in Kangar, Perlis had allegedly shot his wife dead at their house while a police sergeant in Bayan Lepas, Penang who suffered three gunshot wounds was found to have committed suicide.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said that some factors contributing to mental stress for police personnel include pressure resulting from relationship difficulties, troubles adjusting to a new environment, feelings of isolation and marital problems.
“The overall steps that the ministry have taken include revising our training modules while strengthening existing mental health programmes to address specific problems faced by officers.” – The Vibes, March 30, 2023
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