BACOLOD City – The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) conducted a stress debriefing for personnel of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) yesterday, August 13, at Kanlaon Hall, Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Barangay Estefania in this city.
The psychological intervention was aimed at addressing signs of acute stress, emotional fatigue, or trauma which, if left unmanaged, could lead to more serious mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, or depression.
The initiative underscores PRO-NIR’s commitment to prioritizing the mental health and overall well-being of its personnel, recognizing that emotionally resilient officers are vital to effective policing and public safety.
Police Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, reaffirmed his strong commitment to safeguarding the mental and psychological welfare of their forces.
“We recognize that our men and women in uniform are constantly exposed to high-risk and emotionally demanding situations. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are not only physically equipped but also mentally and emotionally prepared,” he said.
Hosted by NOCPPO under the leadership of Police Colonel Rainero De Chavez, the activity was participated in by 18 personnel – 17 males and one female – from various city and municipal police stations, including Cadiz City Component Police Station (CPS), Kabankalan City CPS, San Carlos City CPS, Binalbagan Municipal Police Station (MPS), Candoni MPS, Cauayan MPS, Don Salvador Benedicto MPS, Hinigaran MPS, Ilog MPS, and Toboso MPS.
All participants had recently experienced stressful or traumatic incidents in the line of duty during police operations.
According to Police Major Jullete Cañete of the Regional Medical and Dental Unit 6 (RMDU-6), who facilitated the session, stress debriefing is a structured process designed to help individuals process and cope with traumatic or stressful events.
She emphasized that such interventions help police officers manage the emotional demands of their work, ultimately improving their mental health, well-being, and job performance.
“Providing a safe space to process intense emotions after exposure to distressing events, such as police operations and violent encounters, reduces the risk of long-term psychological trauma,” Cañete added.
PRO-NIR stressed that integrating mental health support into police service is a key step toward creating a culture where psychological well-being is prioritized alongside operational readiness — a move that strengthens resilience, professionalism, and community trust./PN
