SA police officers’ mental health back in the spotlight

Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee says the budget allocated to deal with the mental wellness of police is too small. Committee chairperson Ian Cameron says they are worried about what seems to be the deteriorating mental health of members.

These concerns are once again raised following the recent suicide of a member of the SAPS anti-gang unit.

Cameron says there needs to be enhanced initiatives to care for police who work under very challenging circumstances.

“The Police Portfolio Committee is utterly worried about the way it seems that mental health among South African Police Service members is deteriorating. We are especially concerned because we have also noticed the decline and very limited budget with regards to the mental wellness of SAPS officers. We need to consider it in a very serious and urgent light,” said Cameron.

He proposed that budgets be increased to ensure the wellbeing of police officers is attended to.

Meanwhile, condolences have been streaming in after Sergeant Raoul Hugh Murray of the SAPS anti-gang unit shot himself at his Mitchells Plain home this past Thursday.

Murray had worked at Sea Point Police Station in the Western Cape province.