Depression pushing our officers to suicide, police spokesperson says

Dr. Resila Atieno Onyango named National Police Service spokesperson. [File]

Police spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango has attributed the increased cases of suicide among police officers to depression and work-related pressure.

Onyango, who spoke on Vybz FM on Wednesday, March 8, said the police service is doing everything possible to help affected officers.

"We have a directorate that deals with mental health issues among our officers," she said.

The police spokesperson said the larger community, civilians included, is also affected by depression arising from life-related challenges.

"Mental illness is not unique to police officers only," she said.

Dr. Onyango said depression among police officers, in some occasions, end up directly affecting the law enforcement officers' families.

"Some of the affected officers pass on the stress to their family members."

She said the policemen and women, in the course of work, are usually exposed to depressing stimuli such as tackling rape, arson, murder and other crimes.

"These do affect their mental health in the long run," she said.

To help avert further slip into depression among the officers, Dr. Onyango said the National Police Service has resolved to prioritise the officers' well-being, including giving them adequate time off.

Her remarks come a few days after a police officer in Lang'ata shot dead his girlfriend, neighbour and then turned the gun on himself.