Cops to undergo comprehensive screening

Campaign for officers and personnel will assess mental and physical well-being

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Police have decided to conduct a comprehensive health screening for officers and personnel to assess their mental and physical well-being. Orders have been issued to regional and district police heads across the province to implement the initiative.

According to details, the DIG Establishment Punjab-I issued a circular titled "Psychological Profiling for All Cadres", instructing police authorities to address the growing mental and physical stress among officers and personnel. The circular noted that continuous duty, high workload, challenging environments, and encounters with criminals, along with administrative, social, economic, and political pressures, have led to various health issues.

The screening campaign aims to address stress, long duty hours, exposure to criminal elements, and other social and administrative pressures, which can contribute to mental health problems such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.

The circular mandates organised health screenings for all ranks, from constables to senior officers. Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, DSPs, SPs, and other cadres will be screened under the supervision of designated senior officers. Each in-charge will conduct individual interviews with personnel, and if signs of mental health issues are identified, details will be sent to the respective district head. Coordination with district hospital MSCs will ensure further assessment by psychiatrists.

The circular also emphasised that all reports will remain strictly confidential and will be used solely for professional improvement.