This document discusses occupational stress among police officers in Thrissur district, India. It finds that 31.84% of officers experienced mild stress, 16.73% moderate stress, and 0.41% severe stress. The most commonly reported organizational stressors were staff shortages and bureaucratic red tape. The most common operational stressors were fatigue and feeling like they are always on the job. It recommends stress management training and modifying duties to reduce stress and its negative impacts on officers.

1. Care yourself– to
care others-
Police Officers
DR S V SUBRAMANIAN,
SR CONSULTANT, GMHC THRISSUR

4.  31.84% of subjects were having mild stress, 16.73%
were having moderate and only 0.41% were having
severe stress. Association of stress with duration of
service or nature of job was not statistically
significant.

6.  Perceived organizational and operational stress
prevalence among the study population was as high as
(40 % experienced moderate stress and 40% experienced
stress) and 90% (high stress reported by 70 % and
stress by 20%) respectively. The most common stressor
reported for organizational stress was staff shortage
and that for operational stress was finding time to stay in
good physical condition (76%).

7. organisational
 Staff shortages 74
 Bureaucratic red tape 72
 Excessive administrative duties 70
 Inadequate equipment 62
 Internal investigations 62
 Perceived pressure to volunteer free time60
 Constant changes in policy or legislation 58
 Unequal sharing of work responsibilities 56
 Dealing with the court system 56

8. operational
 Finding time to stay in good physical condition 76
 Occupation related health issues 72
 Fatigue 68
 Eating healthy at work 68
 Lack of understanding from family and friends about work 66
 Working alone at night 48
 Feeling like always on the job 66

9. A study on occupational stressors among civil
police officers of a subdivision of Thrissur district
Joe Abraham1 , John George T2 , Vidhu M Joshy2 , Jenyz M Mundodan3
 “Fatigue” and “friends/family feel the stigma associated
with job” were the most commonly quoted operational
stressors while “staff shortages” and “bureaucratic red
tape” were the most commonly quoted organizational
stressors. Conclusion: Modifications such as sharing work
and allotting fixed duty hours should be done to avoid
stress and its adverse effects. Stress management
training can be given at regular intervals to improve
competency and enhance coping skills.

12.  Behavioural health of Police Officers did not get much attention as there
was always an overstress on physical fitness.
 in 2013, to develop a strategy to address officer mental wellness and
suicide prevention. They established early warning and intervention
protocols to identify and treat ‘at risk’ officers.
 They also suggested to begin mental wellness training at the academy
and continue the training throughout the officer’s career with a
particular emphasis on first time supervisors. They also decided to
include family training.

13. Issues discussed in the symposium
 Parity of physical and mental wellness
 The fear of consequences of seeking help has to be overcome.
 checklist for comprehensive mental wellness and suicide prevention.
 retirees, those who get disabled during their career and veterans are ‘at risk’ groups for
mental wellness.
 Sending periodic updates and cards to retirees
 and reiterating that they are welcome to the Department and utilizing them for peer group
support are welcome moves.
 Preparing officers for retirement life is a requirement.
 After an injury no officer shall feel ‘abandoned’ by the Department.
 IACP symposium suggested mental wellness and suicide prevention training right from the
stage of induction training.
 In-service training and routine resiliency and critical incident training and family training
are required.
 Monthly family meetings and family networks can give training to officers’ families.
Children also shall be involved.

14.  Each officer shall designate at least one person to be
contacted in emergency.
 Life skill training to reduce the incidence of problems
has to be given to everyone. Counselling facilities
need to be made available for everyone in need.

17. 1. വിഷാദര ാഗം - Depressive disorder.
 സങ്കടം കഠിനം ആകുക,
 പ്രവർത്തനത്തിൽ ഇടപരടാൻ രര്യാപ്തമായത ാ രലതപാഴും
പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളിൽ ാൽപര്യതമാ സതതാഷതമാ കുറയുക,
 കൃ യമായ കാര്ണം അജ്ഞാ മാണ്,
 രാര്മ്പര്യം, നയൂതറാ പ്ടാൻസ്മിറ്റർ അളവുകളിപല മാറ്റങ്ങൾ, നയൂതറാ
എൻത ാക്പ്കൻ പ്രവർത്തനം,
 മന os ശാസ്പ് രര്മായ ഘടകങ്ങൾ എന്നിവ ഉൾപപടുന്നു.
 തര്ാഗനിർണയം രര്ിതശാധനയില്
അടിസ്ഥാനമാക്കിയുള്ള ാണ്.
 സ്പ് ീകളില് - പ്രസവാനതര്ം, ആര്് വങ്ങള്ക് മുന്ര്

18.  വിഷാദതര്ാഗം ഉണ്ട് എന്ന് ീര്്ച്ചപപടു ണപമങ്കില് ഇനിപറയുന്നവയിൽ 5
ലക്ഷണങ്ങള് എല്ലാ ദിവസവും ഒതര് 2-ആഴ്ച കാലയളവിൽ ഉണ്ടായിര്ിക്കണം,
 വിഷാദ മാനസികാവസ്ഥതയാ ാൽപര്യതമാ സതതാഷതമാ നഷ്ടപപടുക.
 കടുത്ത സങ്കടം, ശൂനയ അപല്ലങ്കിൽ നിര്ാശയുപട ക്വകാര്ികവസ്ഥ
 പെറിയ കാര്യങ്ങളിൽ തരാലും വയഖ്തിപയ ആതലാസര്പരടുത്തുക, തക്ഷാഭം
അപല്ലങ്കിൽ നിര്ാശ
 ക്ലംഗിക , ത ാബികൾ അപല്ലങ്കിൽ സ്തരാർട്സ് തരാലുള്ള സാധാര്ണ
പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളിലും ാൽപര്യതമാ സതതാഷതമാ നഷ്ടപപടുന്നു
 ഉറക്കമില്ലായ്മ അപല്ലങ്കിൽ അമി മായി ഉറങ്ങുന്ന ് ഉൾപപപടയുള്ള ഉറക്ക
വയ ിയാനങ്ങള്

19.  ക്ഷീണവും ഊര്്ജസവല യില്ലായ്മയും, അ ിനാൽ പെറിയ തജാലികൾ തരാലും പെയ്തു
ീര്്ക്കുവാന് സാധിക്കാപ വര്ിക
 വിശപില്ലായ്മയും ശര്ീര്ഭാര്ം കുറയ്ക്കലും അപല്ലങ്കിൽ ഭക്ഷണത്തിനും വർദ്ധിച്ച ആസക്തി
 ഉ ്കണ്
ഠ , അപല്ലങ്കിൽ വര്്ധിച്ച അസവസ്ഥ
 മന്ദഗ ിയിലുള്ള െിത, സംസാര്ം അപല്ലങ്കിൽ ശാര്ീര്ികെലനങ്ങൾ
 അമി മായ കുറ്റതബാധത്തിന്പറ വികാര്ങ്ങൾ, മുൻകാല രര്ാജയങ്ങപള കുറിച്ച് സവയം
കുറ്റപപടുത്തൽ
 െിതിക്കുന്ന ിൽ പ്ശദ്ധ തകപ്ന്ദീകര്ിക്കുക, ീര്ുമാനങ്ങൾ എടുക്കുക, കാര്യങ്ങൾ ഓർമ്മിക്കുക
എന്നിവ സാധിക്കാപ വര്ിക
 മര്ണപത്തക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള ആവർത്തിച്ചുള്ള െിതകൾ, ആത്മ യാ െിതകൾ,
ആത്മ യാപ്ശമങ്ങൾ
 നടുതവദന അപല്ലങ്കിൽ ലതവദന തരാലുള്ള ശാര്ീര്ിക പ്രശ്നങ്ങൾ

20. At risk
 ധീര്്ഘസ്ഥായി തര്ാഗങ്ങള് ഉള്ളവര്്
 മദയരാനം, മറ്റു ല ര്ികള്
 മുന്ര് വിഷാദം വന്നിട്ടുള്ളവര്്
വകതഭദങ്ങള്
 വിട്ടുമാറാപ നീണ്ടുനില്കുന്ന വിഷാദം
 ക്സതക്കാട്ടിക് ലക്ഷണങ്ങള് ഉള്ള ്
 ക്ബതരാളാര്്

25.  Sum the scores from the first 17 items.
 0-7 = Normal
 8-13 = Mild Depression
 14-18 = Moderate Depression
 19-22 = Severe Depression
 ≥ 23 = Very Severe Depression

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27. 29
And its management.

28. Take the Stress Test
Do any of these
apply to you?
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29. Work Load
1. Always too much work; never able to relax
2. High Pressure periods; deadlines, test come all at
once
3. One or two difficult courses take all my time; no
time left for anything else
4. Efforts often seem for nothing – Don’t get satisfying
results
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30. 5. Seems like I have a lot more work than others
6. I have to work harder than others to get the same
results
7. My job takes up too much time; I can’t afford to cut
back
8. My stress is complicated by commitments I can’t get
out of
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31. If you said yes to many work
stressors…
…you might consider one of the following:
 Consult with a counsellor about time management and/or
priority setting
and change work style
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32. People
1. Tension with family, friends or life partner
2. Incompatibility with friend’s habits, schedule,
lifestyle
3. Change in relationship; love lost/gained/ new
partner
4. Death of a close friend or family member
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33. 5. Divorce, separation or conflicts.
6. Interpersonal conflict;
trouble expressing needs or standing up for rights
7. Reluctant to ask for help
8. Trouble saying NO
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34. If you said yes to many people
stressors…
…you might consider one of the following:
 Talk to a friend, or counsellor
about the problem
 communication skills training
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35. Mind
1. Worry about what people think?
2. More time spent thinking about what can go wrong
than what can go right
3. More time spent thinking about what DID go wrong
than where you can go from here
4. No time to think, always having to do
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36. 5. Motivation problems-- difficulty getting started
6. Tendency to get too worked up when under pressure
or in a crisis
7. Tendency to dwell on how bad things are
8. Often feel guilty
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37. If you said yes to many mind
stressors…
…you are experiencing a lot of internally generated stress.
 Information or counselling on self talk, irrational beliefs and
reinterpretation might be very helpful.
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38. Body
1. Insufficient sleep
2. Frequent colds, sickness
3. Negative effects from caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, etc.
4. Uncomfortable chair, poor posture, excessive time hunched
over book or computer.
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39. 5. Eye Strain (wrong glasses,
poor lighting, computer screen
overload)
6. Inadequate nutrition, missed
meals, reliance on junk food
7. Lack of exercise
8. Aversive environment
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40. If you said yes to many body
stressors…
…then try the following:
Exercise regularly
Choose healthy foods
Change your environment (lighting, space,
etc.)
Reduce or eliminate caffeine, nicotine and
alcohol intake
Get enough sleep
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41. What is stress?
 Stress is part of everyday living
 It is not necessarily events that cause stress, but how we react
to the events
 Symptoms can include mental, social and physical issues-
exhaustion, changes in appetite, headaches, crying, changes
in sleep patterns, using drugs or alcohol

42. Is stress always bad?
 Stress can be positive or negative
 Positive stress:
 Motivates us
 Is short term
 Is exciting
 Improves our performance
 Negative Stress
 Does not go away-it builds
 Can lead to problems such as lack of concentration, headaches, anxiety,
fatigue

43. 45
So…
What can you do to
alleviate excessive stress?

44. Become Aware of Your Stressors
and Emotional and Physical
Reactions
- Notice when you are stressed, don’t ignore it
- Find out what stresses you out and what they might be
telling you
- Learn how it affects your body (sweats, stomach ache,
etc.)
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45. February 11, 2023
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46. Recognize what you can change
 Can you change your stressors by avoiding or
eliminating them?
 Can you reduce their intensity (manage them over
time instead of immediately)
 Can you shorten your exposure to stress (take a
break, leave)
 Can you devote the
time necessary to make
a change?
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47. Reduce the intensity of your emotional
reactions
 Are you expecting to please everyone?
 Are you overreacting and viewing things as
absolutely critical and urgent?
 Work at adopting moderate views, see stress as
something you can cope with, not something that
overpowers you
 Do not labour on the negative and/or the “what ifs”
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48. Learn to moderate your physical
reactions to stress
Slow, deep breathing will bring your heart
rate and respiration back to normal
Relaxation techniques can reduce muscle
tension.
Medications, when prescribed by a
physician can help in the short term.
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49. Build your physical
reserves.
 Exercise for cardiovascular fitness 3 – 4 times a week
 Eat well-balanced, nutritious meals
 Maintain your ideal weight
 Avoid nicotine, excessive caffeine and other stimulants
 Mix leisure with work. Take breaks and get away.
 Get enough sleep. Be consistent with your sleep
schedule.
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50. Maintain your
emotional reserves
 Develop mutually supportive
friendships/relationships.
 Pursue realistic goals which are meaningful to
you, rather than goals other have for you that
you do not share.
 Expect some frustrations, failures and
sorrows.
 Always be kind and gentle with yourself – be a
friend to yourself.
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51. Eliminating Stress From Your
Environment
 A poorly organized living space can be a major
source of stress.
 If your environment is well organized and pleasant,
then it can help to reduce stress and increase
productivity & joy
 Some people under stress need a calm environment,
others may enjoy the raised levels of arousal
associated with the 'buzz' of a busy space.
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52. Be a Light unto Yourself
Saturday, February 11, 2023
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53. Email - soobbs@gmail.com
Phone – 94471 45622
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