THE POLICE Chaplaincy Unit is recording success in its counselling and 'debriefing' sessions for traumatised policemen and their families.
This is despite the fact that some police commanders are "still taking too lightly" the need to refer persons who have been traumatised for the sessions, says Police Chaplain Dr. Vivian Panton.
The sessions are usually scheduled by the chaplain on recommendation from the commanders who lead the officers.
Dr. Panton said, however, that most officers and their commanders were conscious of the need to seek help after being involved in distressing situations and more persons have been helped.
COUNSELLING SESSIONS
The latest figures from that department show that for the period April 2001 to March 2002, there were 975 counselling sessions involving 640 persons (65 per cent male). Twenty-two sessions were for 'critical incident stress debriefing' in the same period. Statistics show that there have been 75 fatal shootings involving the police so far this year and 116 police/criminal confrontations that have left 13 policemen dead and several injured. Last year there were 148 fatal shootings and 194 police/criminal confrontations.
Critical incident stress debriefing comes after shooting or other such incidents. This would include the incidents of July 7 in West Kingston and the Braeton shootings last year, where the police came under stress.
"July 7 was a difficult period for the chaplains, we had to meet with everybody involved from the commander right down," Dr. Panton said. "If you do a group and individuals in the group are so severely traumatised that they need more counselling, then we'll reschedule."
INTERVENTION
He added: "When their engagements turn out to be of a critical nature, depending on the gravity, the commander asks the chaplain to intervene," Dr. Panton said. "It may be just a shooting or they can come under heavy gunfire, and some commanders don't think it's (counselling) always necessary."
The sessions are discussion-based and "are geared towards mitigating the impact of the event on the individual and accelerating recovery for them," Dr. Panton said. There are plans to expand the services to get in other mental health professionals.
Dr. Panton said the average policeman or woman hesitates to seek counselling.
"The culture creates a type of personality to make him feel that he shouldn't accept his vulnerability," he said. "I've had instances where persons have been traumatised, didn't receive immediate help and down the road it took its toll."
Problems that could stem from not receiving trauma counselling include post-traumatic stress disorder which can lead to nervousness or alcohol abuse. There are also nervous breakdowns, heart attacks, memory loss and strokes.
SOURCE OF HELP
Established in 1991, the Unit has been a source of help for many officers. The debriefing sessions are mandatory and should be conducted between the chaplain and policemen within 72 hours of a shooting.
Dr. Panton works from the Police Academy at Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, and said he receives calls from all over the country. Wives of policemen sometimes call more than their husbands, he said, with problems that sometimes stem from the fact that their husbands are in the Force. Other officers contemplate getting out and just need help discussing the stressfullness of the job.
There are also assistant chaplains in the five police Areas, and clergy persons as counsellors are voluntarily attached to every police station in each division.
The chaplain is also involved in recruiting persons for the Force where he gauges character and assists with interviews and promotion.
