Mental health concerns for police officers under spotlight as Cape officer dies by suicide

The issue of mental health on police officials has once again come under the spotlight, after an Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) officer died by suicide.

Sergeant Raoul Murray (38) shot himself in his Mitchells Plain home, last Thursday.

COURTESY - Facebook - Ian Cameron: Sergeant Raoul Murray

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, says the incident highlights the need for enhanced employee health and wellness initiatives within the SAPS to assist officers to cope more effectively with the challenges in their operational environmental.

Cameron says the South African Police Service (SAPS) must do more to enhance the broad psycho-social assistance to its members to reduce suicide in the SAPS.

 The death of Sergeant Murray comes directly after the Portfolio Committee on Police emphasised its concerns about the lack of adequate employee health and wellness interventions for SAPS members. The committee was briefed by the SAPS senior management that the entire SAPS structure has only 621 employed health and wellness employees, servicing about 187 278 personnel within SAPS.

 “In the context of the high crime rate, especially violent crimes, SAPS members are faced with gruesome scenes that are bound to have a negative impact on their mental health. Resilience building and general support care should be a central pillar of the work of SAPS to ensure the mental wellbeing of officers expected to fight crime effectively,” said Cameron.

 SAPS management also informed the committee that 33 suicides occurred within the SAPS in the 2019/20 financial year, 30 in the 2020/21 financial year and 39 in the 2021/22 financial year. Furthermore, 38 homicide–suicide incidents occurred from 2019 to 2022.

The committee had emphasised during the 2024/25 budget process that the continued disregard of this important element has a direct impact on the morale and effectiveness of SAPS members and their ability to fight crime.

“In a country encountering high crime statistics, it is a moral requirement that foot soldiers are broadly capacitated to effectively deal with crime. Without the adequate psycho-social support, members will be exposed to unmitigated mental stress that could lead to suicide. This must be urgently addressed,” said Ian Cameron, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police.

The committee urged SAPS management to consider strengthening internal employee health and wellness programmes to ensure that the well-being of members is prioritized, despite the partnerships with non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations and health professionals linked to POLMED and GEMS medical aid schemes.

 

Done By: Mitchum George