"I thought that the PSG was also part of management, and that they would side with my supervisor," said Ah Foon. Only after repeated encouragement from Welfare Officers did Ah Foon decide to give it a try.

Quite unexpectedly, Ah Foon realised that he actually felt less distressed after his first appointment with the Police Clinical Psychologist (PCP).

"She listened to me patiently and I felt that someone was actually comprehending things from my point of view. I understood that her role was not to solve my problems but to assist me in facing them. I was eager to attend the follow-up sessions, and prepared a lot of questions to discuss with her."

However, things did not proceed smoothly. Ah Foon decided to make a complaint regarding his perceived unfair treatment but still felt that management did not take his complaint seriously. He was so angry about the whole situation that he lost his ability to think logically and rationally and wanted to commit suicide to demonstrate that he was not the kind of person others perceived him to be. Fortunately, this potential tragedy was prevented at the critical moment.

After calming down Ah Foon was remorseful about this impulsive behavior, especially when he saw how worried his wife and children were about him and with the guidance of PCP he was able to analyse his problem from a different perspective. Gradually he was able to let go of the anger he felt towards his old supervisor, releasing himself from the emotional trap he had previously found himself in. His formation also took action regarding his grievances. With Ah Foon's consent, the formation co-operated with different parties, including PSG and the Welfare Office, and the misunderstandings between Ah Foon and his old supervisor were finally resolved.

Ah Foon is now an enthusiastic worker once again and his formation is more than satisfied with his outstanding performance. Looking back, Ah Foon now realises that life is precious. He said: "I have learned to value both myself and my family more. Most importantly though, I learned how to be more open with those around me which will help me face any adversities in the future."

Consent has been obtained from the colleague to publish this story. Seek advice and help from the Psychological Services Group: