BANGKOK, 7 October 2014 The Royal Thai Police is launching its 1599 hotline for the prevention of suicides by stressed-out policemen today.
In a bid to solve the problem of the high number of suicides by police officers, National police commissioner Somyot Phumphanmuang is launching a hotline for stressed policemen to call. The hotline’s call center will be staffed by psychologists from the Police General Hospital, who will also consult with other staff drawn from the police force to advise the callers about specific woes frequently faced by policemen.
According to Pol. Gen. Somyot, studies have found several factors that contribute to suicides by policemen, which include financial issues, stress from work, family problems and illness. He has also told officials in supervisory roles to closely look into the well-being of their subordinates and provide them with moral support.
Pol. Gen. Somyot added that the setting up of the hotline is in response to the increased number of suicides by police officers over the past one year.
