Stress Management in Security Forces En

      Stress Management in Security Forces                                                                                                               Krishna Kumar Tamang, PhD

Sociology defines human as a social being. Every individual has own inborn and inherent qualities differing from one another. Human caliber determinants a few to cite are namely job nature, livelihood, social norms, and environment wherein one is brought up. People reveal variant responses in situations of similarity showing universality of diversity in withstanding the endurance of hardship. It would not be hype to emphasizing of security forces and of their performance, adherence to timeliness, discipline, physical fitness, and agility which make them distinct from the people of agriculture, trade, and industries and alike.

          The US troops deployed in Iraq war amounting 25% of its strength suffered stress in the years since 2003 to 2011. Causation leading to family worries counts one of the most inducing reasons for stress in the forces. Insecurity, uncertainty, sleeplessness and dissatisfaction are the major factors of stress. According to estimation during insurgency in Nepal the forces had encountered acts of taking hostages, homicide and denying house to tenants by house owners and the destruction of barrack like secured facilities including properties of the public had demoralized 19% of security personnel. Amnesty International report shows 50% of Nepali security forces got acute stress in span of a decade ever since the armed conflict started in the year 2000. Kathmandu published bi-monthly magazine has statistics in its third edition of October 01, 2012 heading Mental Sicks Rise in Last Ten Years. The figure shows the number of mentally sick rose from 12 thousand to 36 thousand in the years of 2001 to 2010. Amongst ten ailments to human health four are related to mental, of which 90% are said to be depression genre that is mental tension. World Health Organization claims approximate 25% of world population has mental trouble. People living collectively or en masse inevitably require psychotherapeutic assistance. Untoward happenings of suicide, killing of co-worker, violence, and rape like heinous crimes are most likely to occur in psychopathy. Taking for negligible in laymen’s view mental sickness could be risky in losing mental order. The necessity of psychoanalyst is comparable what light is to a residential house.

         Hardly there could be any note taken of mental tension due to devastation of the earthquake hits of Nepal on the days of 25th, 26th April and 12th of May 2015. The frequent quake aftershocks at short intervals created panic in the people. The reoccurrences caused damages and loss scared the inhabitants of Kathmandu valley. More than 300 aftershocks scaling above 4 rectors in three months turned all of all the ages good at speculating measurement of aftershocks. At the most places victims of the trembler compelled to take shelter in makeshifts had real hard time in living. However, some dared to usual slumber within their houses.

          Throughout the country altogether 25,962 APF personnel were deployed in 16 affected districts, out of which 5,687 trained in CSSR - Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue were subject to psycho counseling as well. Victims in uncomfortable situations get immense stress and the rescuers too are not exception. For energizing both the kinds of people at the scene psycho therapy counseling is felt imperative.

          Armed conflict infected countries where peacekeeping soldiers away from their kith and kin in midst of firing and bombardment starving of food, and yearning rest for long feel fatigued conducing stress. Psycho therapy counseling was deemed from the experience of grim battle fields to invigorate troops. In a bid to keep afresh the troops the provision of periodical mandatory home leave is an instance in British army. Having family attachment and passing time in homely environment helps defuse stress, concentrate mind, and psychology. Nepal Police cultural show programs were much appreciated in public especially by school children folks for their stress therapy aimed service.

Under the flagship of the United Nations peacekeeping field missions in order to facilitate the troops deployed in armed conflict theatre a unit by the name of CAST – Counseling and Support Team exists. It aims at assisting the soldiers in heightening their performance and capability as good as in their homeland lest they get lethargic. It comprises of personnel from sections of administration, medical, legal, finance, logistics, communication, and motor transport of the mission itself. Abnormal behavior shown in mission by any personnel regardless of appointment is handled in befitting manner by transfer, leave or shifting of duty hours as per requisite surmised.

          The World Health Organization has statistics of committing suicide every 40 second in the world whereas in Nepal 11 people commit suicide per day according to Nepal Police (as of March 01, 2015). According to the journal of Nepal Pediator Society 24% people commit suicide owing to mental quandary. Armed Police Force since its very inception has been practising the enrollment of officer cadres through tests of psychological aspects (TO, GTO, IO) screening for boldness, ability and aptitude in tackling odd circumstances. Recent Armed Police Force regulation reviewing of routine ration scale has given continuity to its reformation. The level of satisfaction gets motion in parallel to improvement that in ration accelerates factors of motivation, dedication and professionalism. Once a renowned French war monger Napoleon Bonaparte had said troops fight their war on belly and his quotation has relevance till today.

         To be precise, Armed Police Force has been adhering to international values in terms of professional measures demonstrating the latest dynamism.

Published: (Nepali version)

Armed Police Force

Armed Police Day Special Publication,

9th Nov. 2015

Dr. Tamang often writes articles, features, and research papers on issues of border, anti-terrorism, armed conflict, human rights, ethnicity and indigenous matters, crimes against women & children, law enforcement, security, good governance affairs related to Nepal and global community; topics of disaster and humanitarian laws. He has Post Graduation degree in International Humanitarian Law, Master degree in Disaster Mitigation, Master degree in Criminology, MPhil in Police Administration, and PhD in Public Administration. Having involvement in national, international training courses, seminars, and United Nations peacekeeping experience regarding peace, security and conflict management in the US, Europe, Asia and Africa; has reputation being seasoned professional in social aspects of safety and security matters.