FORTY-EIGHT police officers died of heart attack between 2016 and 2020, states the Fiji Police Force 2021 Annual Report that was tabled in Parliament on Monday.
“Since a total of 48 officers died of heart attack between the years 2016 and 2020, the unit anticipates to conduct more awareness workshops from a cultural perspective,” the report stated.
“Police officers’ roles and responsibilities place them in challenging and stressful situations that can significantly impact on their mental wellbeing and possibly even performance.
“Evidence suggests that the ways in which mental health challenges manifest or are dealt with in police forces differ from other occupational groups.
“Under its new reform, the Fiji Police Force has set a mandate to employ a psychologist who is included in their recruitment system.
“This is to prepare police officers for a volatile environment.”
