The government will create a working group to combat mental health problems in the security forces

The government will create a working group to strengthen the fight against mental health problems among members of the security forces, the interior minister announced in Faro on Tuesday.

The initiative aims to study and find a set of recommendations “to overcome what unfortunately happens with a certain frequency” regarding behavioral and mental health problems among police and military personnel, Margarida Blasco said in Faro at the closing ceremony and evaluation. national training conducted by the Inspectorate General of Internal Administration (IGAI) on the prevention of discrimination in the security forces.

The working group, he said, would be led by Homeland Inspector General Anabela Cabral Ferreira and would also include psychologists, academy members and security forces, and should report results by the end of 2024.

“This research will add to the needs, especially for the 45,000 men and women who serve in the armed forces. [de segurança]a set of measures to ensure welfare and [espero] this allows you to work better and better adapt to your activities,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Margarida Blasko emphasized that it is “no coincidence” that the work of security forces has a “significant impact” on the mental health of their employees, given situations of stress and risk in everyday life.

The Minister also recalled the new structured mental health program for PSP and GNR members, integrated into the emergency and health transformation plan approved by the Council of Ministers in May, and called for its use where necessary.

“Any member of the security forces, if they have a problem, if they have an emergency, can get a green lane to be treated in the emergency department of a hospital. This is due to the care that the government takes towards this type of situation,” he said.

The Plan to Prevent Discrimination in the Forces and Security Services has been in place since 2020 and aims to combat racism and all types of discrimination in the police.

It is in this context that the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) last year began training commanders of PPR posts and PSP police stations to combat any kind of discrimination in the police.

The plan, coordinated by IGAI, commits the GNR and PSP to strengthen areas of intervention from recruitment to training, interaction of security forces with other citizens and among themselves (including on social media), police image promotion and communication. mechanisms for preventing and monitoring manifestations of discrimination.

The Home Secretary considered the plan to be a “success” and an example of the development of IGAI over recent years.

“IGAI for many years was considered, excuse the term, the executioner of the police. Because there was an idea that IGAI punishes for everything that is done. [fora] appropriate standards of behavior. IGAI has evolved greatly in terms of understanding […] that it was his responsibility to do more,” he stressed.

The Interior Inspector General said the anti-discrimination training component, which has so far focused on commanders, will be extended to operational personnel.