Bengaluru police personnel's silent cry for help answered by well-being programme
The officer, Wazeera Begum, quickly identified the severity of Ramaiah's mental health struggles and facilitated access to the right treatment and support. Just as Ramaiah began to stabilise, tragedy struck again - his younger son suffered a rib fracture in an accident involving a buffalo. But he recovered again when his elder son emerged as one of the toppers in the class 10 exams. Now, after treatment and boosted family morale, Ramaiah is back at his job and also happy at home with his family.
Ramaiah is just one of 43 police personnel identified by the mental health initiative of the Bengaluru city police as being at risk of taking extreme steps and saved in time. The programme, designed to support personnel facing emotional distress, has helped officers dealing with addiction, family crises, depression, and identity-related challenges.
In another notable case, a City Armed Reserve (CAR) constable in the dog training squad struggled with severe alcoholism and delusional behavior, even lashing out at senior officers. Facing a Departmental Enquiry (DE) and possible dismissal, he entered the well-being programme. After assessment, he opted for aggressive de-addiction therapy and is now back at work with improved mental health.
These interventions are part of a growing effort to address the hidden mental health crisis among police personnel. 'Many who came in for counselling had either attempted suicide or viewed the sessions as their last hope,' said Siri Gowri, DCP, Traffic- North division, who holds a doctorate in psychology and serves as the nodal officer for the programme. The initiative now has five well-being officers supporting over 20,000 personnel in Bengaluru.
Launched last year under then-Commissioner B. Dayananda, the initiative has conducted over 50 sessions, with personnel joining voluntarily or on the advice of their superiors. The most common issues uncovered include addiction, extramarital affairs, family disputes, depression, and sexual identity challenges, especially among reserve force personnel and lower-ranking officers.
To deliver holistic care, the programme works with Victoria Hospital and NIMHANS, offering expert diagnosis, medical treatment, counselling, and follow-up. However, uptake remains limited, especially among lower-rank staff, due to the persistent stigma around mental health, Ms. Gowri added. Though the programme is meant for all, senior officers are hesitant to take up due to many reasons, she added.
The programme was initially funded through the Commissioner's Benevolent Fund, and later expanded through partnerships with a city-based psychiatric hospital and leading mental health institutions.
A tragic case that galvanized the department involved a CAR constable who died by suicide in the Adugodi police quarters. He had accumulated heavy debt from online gambling, and his decomposed body was found days later. The investigation revealed he had been under extreme financial stress and was unable to repay loans. In response, the department has now introduced financial counselling to help personnel manage money and make informed investments.
Dedicated Tele-MANAS line for police
In a major step forward, Bengaluru city police is all set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) to establish a dedicated Tele-MANAS counselling line exclusively for police personnel. This will allow quicker access to mental health support, while well-being officers will also receive regular training and guidance from NIMHANS experts.
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Bengaluru police personnel's silent cry for help answered by well-being programme
Ramaiah (name changed), a traffic constable in Bengaluru North division, was battling more than just a spinal cord injury. Unable to work, he sank into deep depression, stopped going home, and left his wife and two children emotionally adrift. Fearful of losing his job and burdened by health issues and family distress, he reached a breaking point - untill a counselling session with a well-being officer changed everything. The officer, Wazeera Begum, quickly identified the severity of Ramaiah's mental health struggles and facilitated access to the right treatment and support. Just as Ramaiah began to stabilise, tragedy struck again - his younger son suffered a rib fracture in an accident involving a buffalo. But he recovered again when his elder son emerged as one of the toppers in the class 10 exams. Now, after treatment and boosted family morale, Ramaiah is back at his job and also happy at home with his family. Ramaiah is just one of 43 police personnel identified by the mental health initiative of the Bengaluru city police as being at risk of taking extreme steps and saved in time. The programme, designed to support personnel facing emotional distress, has helped officers dealing with addiction, family crises, depression, and identity-related challenges. In another notable case, a City Armed Reserve (CAR) constable in the dog training squad struggled with severe alcoholism and delusional behavior, even lashing out at senior officers. Facing a Departmental Enquiry (DE) and possible dismissal, he entered the well-being programme. After assessment, he opted for aggressive de-addiction therapy and is now back at work with improved mental health. These interventions are part of a growing effort to address the hidden mental health crisis among police personnel. 'Many who came in for counselling had either attempted suicide or viewed the sessions as their last hope,' said Siri Gowri, DCP, Traffic- North division, who holds a doctorate in psychology and serves as the nodal officer for the programme. The initiative now has five well-being officers supporting over 20,000 personnel in Bengaluru. Launched last year under then-Commissioner B. Dayananda, the initiative has conducted over 50 sessions, with personnel joining voluntarily or on the advice of their superiors. The most common issues uncovered include addiction, extramarital affairs, family disputes, depression, and sexual identity challenges, especially among reserve force personnel and lower-ranking officers. To deliver holistic care, the programme works with Victoria Hospital and NIMHANS, offering expert diagnosis, medical treatment, counselling, and follow-up. However, uptake remains limited, especially among lower-rank staff, due to the persistent stigma around mental health, Ms. Gowri added. Though the programme is meant for all, senior officers are hesitant to take up due to many reasons, she added. The programme was initially funded through the Commissioner's Benevolent Fund, and later expanded through partnerships with a city-based psychiatric hospital and leading mental health institutions. A tragic case that galvanized the department involved a CAR constable who died by suicide in the Adugodi police quarters. He had accumulated heavy debt from online gambling, and his decomposed body was found days later. The investigation revealed he had been under extreme financial stress and was unable to repay loans. In response, the department has now introduced financial counselling to help personnel manage money and make informed investments. Dedicated Tele-MANAS line for police In a major step forward, Bengaluru city police is all set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) to establish a dedicated Tele-MANAS counselling line exclusively for police personnel. This will allow quicker access to mental health support, while well-being officers will also receive regular training and guidance from NIMHANS experts.
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