Stressed out? Help for Delhi cops over the phone

NEW DELHI: Police officers suffering from stress and mental health issues can now consult doctors over the phone. In a step to reduce stress among cops deployed on the ground, Delhi Police — along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Science and RML Hospital — have launched an on-call counselling system for men on the ground.
Cops usually undergo counselling on a one-to-one basis, which had to be stopped due to the lockdown. The programme was launched last year after several cases of cops committing suicide had been reported.
The policemen who are stressed out due to the job-related issues or family problems were identified and asked to attend counselling sessions by prominent mental health experts.
Now, instead of visiting experts personally, cops can call on the helpline number and speak with a counsellor. Sources said the ones posted on security duty or at pickets are more vulnerable to depression due to the nature of their work. The helpline would be operational 24-hours.