KOZHIKODE: Depression, anxiety and mental disorders are high among the police personnel with no proper mechanism available in the force to share their problems.
Suicide tendencies and alcoholism are also prevalent as senior officials allegedly ill-treat them. Additional work hours also add to the stress.
Many say they do not have a family life. “Some superiors treat you like their slaves," a head constable attached to the Kozhikode city police told DC.
"They blame you for their faults and punish for the silliest of reasons. Many suffer silently, and there have been cases of extreme depression and suicides.” They say they have no proper forum to lodge a complaint without fear of victimisation.
“If you have a complaint, you will have to give it to your superior officer. If the complaint is against the superior officer, then whom will we approach? There is no professionalism in handling personal issues, and nobody raises such complaints,” another constable attached to Kozhikode rural said.
Though they conduct health camps to assess the physical conditions occasionally, they don't check their mental health and behavioral disorders.
“The main culprits are bad tempered and corrupt senior officials. We need to do a survey of such bad mouthed, ill-tempered superiors from the rank of sub-inspector and above and should send them for special training,” Kozhikode city police commissioner P. A. Valsan said.
The heavy workload is also a problem, and many have to work continuously without getting enough vacations and regular time off. But the commissioner feels they are capable of managing work pressure if their immediate superior keeps them protected and in good humour.
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