Over 90 police suicides in five years; Kerala government to ‘study’ workload of policemen

Thiruvananthapuram: The ongoing work pressure faced by police personnel is under scrutiny again, as the government has pledged to study the issue despite previous assurances of an eight-hour workday proving ineffective. The examination is being conducted by Help and Assistance to Tackle Stress (HATS) under the Social Policing Directorate. The primary goal is to alleviate the stressors contributing to the alarming suicide rates among officers.

Information will be gathered from all police personnel via a Google Form. Ajeetha Begum, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), has instructed unit heads to ensure their officers complete the form by October 28. It is crucial to note that the survey will not collect personal information about the officers.

The survey will cover several aspects, including:

• Stress factors affecting police officers
• Circumstances leading to stress
• The impact of stress on officers' lives
• Potential solutions to mitigate stress
• Living conditions, including whether officers reside in quarters
• The presence of bed-ridden patients in officers' families
• The number of hours worked per week, including night shifts
• The average number of hours worked weekly
• The number of relocations or transfers over the past five years

Alarming statistics

In the past five years, over 90 police officers have tragically taken their own lives, with work pressure identified as a significant factor. Many officers have also opted for voluntary retirement, highlighting the strain within the force. Furthermore, police organisations have also pointed out that the shortage of personnel in the force is adding to the pressure alongside their existing workload.

To address these challenges, approximately six thousand officers have received counselling through HATS, a programme initiated to provide support to police personnel and their families.