HYDERABAD: Stories of stressed cops killing themselves are alarmingly common in India. Reacting to a spate of suicides of constables in the State, Telangana police has decided to subject their cops to a psychological evaluation of sorts.
From the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) to Constable across TS, cops will now have to go undergo a special interview. This will help clinical psychologists to assess their stress levels. Following incidents where cops killed themselves with their service weapons, the department will prepare a report in this regard and submit it to the state government.
As part of the initiative, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Police Training, Charu Sinha will be participating in a workshop-cum-training on mental health for doctors and paramedics of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
The programme is being held in Chhawla Camp in New-Delhi by the Global Mental Health Assessment Tool (GMHAT) with the help of central forces like Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
“While co-ordinating with the central forces’ officials in getting information on how they treat their staff in preventing suicides, TS police could consult Vimal Sharma, Professor of International Health Development, University of Chester, UK,’’ a senior officer said.
Sharma who has developed the Global Mental Health Assessment Tool (GMHAT) is the chief guest for the workshop.
Prevention method
The GMHAT is a device-assisted interview technique used to detect and manage mental disorders. The main purpose of developing GMHAT was to help people in bringing relief to people sufferings from mental disorders. However, a final decision is to be taken by the higher officials.