• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Eighteen police personnel of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), who experienced stressful or traumatic incidents during the conduct of police operations, underwent a stress debriefing session at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City on Wednesday (Aug. 13).
The stress debriefing session is a structured process that helps individuals process and cope with traumatic or stressful events.
PMaj. Junette Cañete, Regional Medical Dental Unit 6 chief, said by going through the process, a Philippine National Police personnel can better manage the emotional demands of their job, leading to improve their mental health, well-being and job performance.
This early psychological intervention is a proactive measure to address signs of acute stress, emotional fatigue, or trauma, which, if left unaddressed, may develop into more serious mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, or depression.
The participants are members of Ilog, Toboso, Hinigaran, Don Salvador Benedicto, Cauayan, Candoni, Binalbagan municipal police stations as well as Cadiz, Kabankalan and San Carlos component city police stations.
Last week, a policeman in Ilog had shot a suspect in an act of self-defense while he and his colleague responded to a shooting incident.
In a statement, PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR regional director, expressed his strong commitment to prioritizing the mental and psychological well-being of personnel.
“We recognize that our men and women in uniform are constantly exposed to high-risk and emotionally demanding situations. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are not only physically equipped but also mentally and emotionally prepared,” he added. | GB
