When police buckle under burden of the beat

When police buckle under burden of the beat
Mark Russell
May 17, 2009
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IT IS often the last resort for police officers weighed down by what they have seen during a career on the beat dealing with murders, suicides, fatal car accidents and assaults.

A unique counselling program run out of the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital's veteran psychiatry unit is now treating officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The facility was set up in 1995 to treat war veterans, but since the program was expanded four years ago, more than 200 police with PTSD have sought help to cope with their feelings of confusion, anger, bitterness and depression.

Psychologist Tony McHugh, who manages the program, says about half of the current 90 patients are police officers.

Mr McHugh said the officers meet in groups of five or six, twice a week for up to three months.

It was important for police to be with other officers as they were more inclined to open up about their experiences with people in the same job.

The program, which aims to show officers there is no shame in admitting to post traumatic stress, has proved to be a success, with two-thirds of those counselled returning to work in some capacity.
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When police buckle under burden of the beat