Karnataka Police Proposes Hiring Mental Health Workers for Personnel Support

Proposal to Appoint Professional Mental Health Workers for Karnataka Police

In a significant move aimed at improving the welfare of police personnel and enhancing their performance, a proposal has been submitted to the Karnataka Police Department to appoint professional psychiatric social workers across police units. This initiative seeks to address the growing mental health needs of the police force.

The recommendation was put forth by Mohan Kumar Danappa, a Member of the Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority, in a communication to the State police leadership. He emphasized that while the department has made strides in addressing the physical health of its personnel, there remains a critical gap in providing adequate psychological and mental health support.

The proposal is supported by findings from mental health institutions such as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and other research organisations. These studies highlight the increasing importance of mental well-being among police personnel, given the high-stress and demanding nature of their work.

According to the communication, deploying professional psychiatric social workers would enable police personnel to manage occupational stress more effectively, enhance their overall well-being, reduce health-related costs, and minimise manpower losses caused by mental health challenges.

The proposal recommends the placement of these professionals in all district police offices, commissionerates, armed police units, police training institutions, and other police establishments across Karnataka. The initiative has also garnered support from the State Committee of the Police Welfare Association in Bengaluru, which submitted a representation endorsing the move. The matter is now under consideration by the relevant authorities.

It is worth noting that the city police have previously appointed welfare officials to provide psychological and physiological support to personnel in need.