- CATEGORY: MY CHOICES FOUNDATION
The emotional wellbeing of Police personnel during the pandemic
Rachakonda Commissionerate (Hyderabad, Telangana), under the leadership of the Rachakonda Commissioner of Police Mr. Mahesh Bhagwath, Indian Police Service initiated a quarantine follow-up for the staff of the Commissionerate who were tested positive for COVID-19 (mild and moderate cases). My Choices Foundation was brought on board to conduct counselling sessions, along with the routine medical […]
Rachakonda Commissionerate (Hyderabad, Telangana), under the leadership of the Rachakonda Commissioner of Police Mr. Mahesh Bhagwath, Indian Police Service initiated a quarantine follow-up for the staff of the Commissionerate who were tested positive for COVID-19 (mild and moderate cases). My Choices Foundation was brought on board to conduct counselling sessions, along with the routine medical team group consultations. The purpose of the counselling sessions was to help the staff navigate through anxiety or serious health situations during this difficult time.
These calls focused on encouraging the staff and their family members to watch out for any COVID-19 related symptoms, referring them to an isolation facility opened exclusively for the Rachakonda Police Personnel and their families. We also encouraged them to consult the Department Doctor regularly, seek any referrals from Covid Control Room, reach out to their Senior Officers if they are in any need and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Our team spoke and listened in a very empathic manner. Loneliness, fear of family members contracting the virus, fear of being hospitalized, hopelessness, uncertainty about their future, fear of losing their loved ones and the handling of the grief after losing their loved ones are some of the many things discussed and addressed during the calls. Some personnel were very deeply disappointed when they were tested positive again after their quarantine. Our team gently encouraged them to handle the disappointment till they tested negative. With time, the Personnel started looking forward to our calls as they enjoyed conversing with our team. It gave them an outlet to share their joys and sorrows.
Our team conducted follow-up calls to 330 Police Personnel daily until all of them tested negative. We conducted 3013 sessions from 26 May to 20 July 2021 with the police personnel to help them through these uncertain times.
It is difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and also be worry-free when someone is going through the COVID-19 crisis. The uncertainty and worries related to the spreading of infection to other family members, especially elderly parents, pregnant staff or family members of the infected staff and disruption of routines, our lifestyles can impact our mental health. The uncertainty about the future, the ceaseless news coverage and the constant social media-driven flood of messages can increase our sense of anxiety. Stress is a normal response in these situations. Stress disturbs our sleeping and eating patterns and leads to irritability or emotional outbursts and low motivation.
The Commissioner arranged for regular group consultations with the Medical team over the zoom along with Doctors and Senior Officials to encourage the COVID-19 affected personnel through this difficult time. Alongside the group consultations, individual follow-up calls were also conducted.
Feedback –
“My special thanks to the MCF team who succeeded to imbibe confidence at my depressive state once occurred.”
– Constable from the Rachakonda Commissionerate team.
“My Covid 19 report is negative. Thank you for supporting me during my time in isolation. Thank you for your moral support and motivation Madam.”
– Rachakonda Commissionerate team.
Mam, I wanted to share with you first about my negative report. Thank you for your support.
– Rachakonda Commissionerate team
My mother died yesterday night and my wife has been suffering from Covid for the past 4 days. I am in deep sorrow. Feeling very tensed about what will happen next? Thank you for these calls at least I can share my feelings in my difficult time.
– ARPC from the Rachakonda
Thank you Ma’am for the Pediatrician Contact number at the right time. Took consultation from the Doctor. Feeling relieved.
– Rachakonda Commissionerate team.
Evening: 4:45 Today’s call was all about how his day looked like. He shared that both he and his son are trying to follow the chart given by the Department. He can follow most of the activities mentioned, also spending time reading books, watching TV, He is also doing breathing exercises. Taught him a few relaxation techniques too.
– MCF Team Member notes
My Choices Foundation
This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.
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