NGO calls for mental support for police
By Mast Reporter
EXPAND mental health support services to junior police officers, Swala Pilu, a non-governmental organisation dealing with suicide prevention, has urged the Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba.
Executive director Mary Kufanga said intense training, occupational stress, limited access to mental health support among police officers should be taken as key priority by the Zambia Police Service.
In an interview with The Mast, Kufanga said she was worried that suicide cases were rampant among the Zambia Police Service officers and not in the other defence or security wings.
“We are concerned that suicide cases within the Zambia Police Service continue to emerge without sufficient public dialogue or structured mental health interventions. We respectfully call upon the Inspector General of Police, through the Victim Support Unit, to urgently explore sustainable measures to address the mental health challenges faced by officers, especially those in junior ranks,” she said.
Kufanga was worried about the increasing cases of suicide among police officers, especially those with lower ranks with the latest being a police officer who recently killed himself in Mkushi District of Central Police.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a young police officer in Mkushi who reportedly took his own life… As Swala, an NGO dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health advocacy, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues and the entire Zambia Police Service during this difficult time,” she said.
Kufanga said officers dedicated to serving the country and protecting people’s lives should be helped to be mentally strong.
“Police officers operate under intense pressure. They face traumatic incidents, long working hours, dangerous environments and emotional strain, often without adequate psychological support. Organising regular seminars, workshops and confidential counseling services would provide a safe and non-judgmental space for officers to speak openly about mental health pressure,” she said.
Kufanga noted that the increased suicide cases in the police service deserved scrutiny.
“This raises serious questions: Why are we increasingly hearing about suicide cases within the police service? Why do we not hear similar reports from institutions such as the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, or Zambia National Service? These are important questions that require careful research and institutional reflection rather than speculation,” she said.
She was concerned that most suicide victims in the police service were young and vibrant officers.
“We are particularly concerned that many of the affected officers appear to be young and in the early stages of their careers. This suggests an urgent need to examine workplace culture, support systems, mentorship structures, financial pressures, and mental health awareness within the service,” she said.
Swala Pilu is Lozi which means ‘Hold Your Heart’.
