Police Medical Unit – Mauritius Police Force

Psychology Department

Vision

The psychology department of the police medical unit assist police officers and their immediate families during psychological problems. The department aspires to make a significant contribution to police officers psychological wellbeing.

Mission

The psychology department of the police medical unit was created to address the unique demands of working with police officers, as well as their families. We aim at providing psychological support enabling police officers to build strength resilience and a good mental health.

Objectives:

Providing counselling support services and psychological advice to police officers on matters relating to personal and emotional problems.
Providing psychotherapy to police officers and their families.
Assessing therapeutic needs of police officers depending on the nature of the problem. In case required, Police officers are referred to health care professionals and stakeholders concerned.
Formulating, implementing and monitoring psychological assessment programme and treatment services for police officers, trainee police officers and immediate relatives of police officers
Conducting mass awareness sessions at workplace to sensitize police personnel on the importance of mental health and selfcare.
Sensitization on mental health through numerous resources such as police bulletin article, leaflets, posters and sensitization videos.

Offices of the Psychology Department

POLICE MEDICAL UNIT

PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Head Office,
Police Medical Unit,
Line Barracks: 213-2220

Regimental Medical Unit: 606-7646

Metropolitan North and South, SSU, PHQ, Traffic Branch

Central, Southern, SMF, VIPSU, ERS

Police Training School, Beau-Bassin: 455-0031

Psychologist Office,
Ex- Metro Sud, Prosecutors office, Line Barracks: 214-2685

Western, PTS Beau-Bassin, NCG, SOCO

Northern, Eastern, PTS Les Casernes, ADSU, CCID, PIO

Psychological Services

The psychological services available to police officers and their family members are listed in the table below:

CASES	Psychological services offered to victim	Psychological services offered to family members
Personal and family issues	Supportive and directive counselling where applicable for: Ø Burnout – A syndrome characterised by emotional and physical depletion; Ø Negative self-esteem; Ø Negative attitudes towards people, life and work; Ø Physical and psychosomatic disorders such as coronary heart diseases, ulcers, and hypertension; Ø Personal difficulties including alcohol abuse, family problems, divorce, suicide; Referral to Medical Practitioners (mainly for psychiatric treatment as and when required)	Couple therapy Family and child therapy Family and community based
Suicide		Effect Home Visit Risk Assessment- Psycho-educational strategies- Family Counselling Psychotherapeutic services to prevent symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and Cognitive re-structuring Psychological de-briefing Referral to Medical Practitioners (mainly for psychiatric treatment as and when required Referral to other institutions depending on the nature of problem
Attempt at suicide	Supportive counselling: to help individual cope with feelings of guilt, anger and shame Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy which includes problem focused exercises and motivational homework Risk Assessment Cognitive re-structuring	Effect Home Visit Risk Assessment- Psycho-educational strategies-Sensitize individuals on psychological services Family/ supportive Counselling Psychotherapy
Natural death		Family/ supportive Counselling Psychotherapy Referral to other institutions depending on the nature of problem
Trauma (accidents/disasters; etc)	Survivors of trauma-related cases are often given: psychological debriefing services Trauma-focused CBT and relaxation training Risk Assessment (symptoms of PTSD) Referral to Medical Practitioners (mainly for psychiatric treatment as and when required)	Effect Home Visit Risk Assessment Psychotherapeutic services to prevent symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder: Cognitive re-structuring Psychological de-briefing Trauma-focused CBT and relaxation training Referral to Medical Practitioners (mainly for psychiatric treatment as and when required)