At the same time, Dr Ellen Kirschman also has high regard for the work of the Psychological Services Group (PSG) for promoting mental health within the Force.

Dr Kirschman, an expert in police stress and police families from California, US, has completed a lecturing tour for the Force. She had spoken on various topics at two workshops, two seminars and an open forum as part of the "CARELINKS 2003-Mental Health in the Workplace Campaign" conducted by the PSG.

In an interview with OffBeat, Dr Kirschman said she was impressed with the Force management's response to, and attendance at, the seminars and open forum.

"I've got the impression that the senior management are very supportive of what the PSG has been doing, and are interested in the welfare of officers and their families," she added.

Speaking on the PSG's work, Dr Kirschman pointed out that it was doing "a very good job", facing a "big challenge" and was dedicated to duties.

She also complimented the PSG for being "innovative, creative and very professional" in providing services to Force members and their families, citing the mental health campaign as a good example. She noted that the campaign would make Force members more aware of the need of staying mentally healthy, and more forthcoming in seeking help for their problems from the PSG.

Referring to the problems facing Force members, Dr Kirschman said there were "similarities" between the officers and their overseas counterparts. She regards "organisational stress" as a common problem facing many Force members. "Organisational stress is mainly caused by shift work, concern about job security, financial security, relations with supervisors, and budget cut for the management, etc," she explained.

But she was impressed with the welfare, training and recreational facilities provided by the Force, and took the view that the support from the management would reduce the impact of problems on individual officers.

Dr Kirschman has urged officers with personal problems to be more forthcoming in seeking help from the PSG.

"Some officers are reluctant to confide their problems to others for various reasons. I think the PSG is gradually breaking down the myths about help seeking with what it has been doing for members of the Force," she noted.

And she has offered the officers with advice for solving problems and building a "resilient police family". "Self-caring skills and constant efforts are the keys to solving personal problems and achieving a balanced life."

According to Dr Kirschman, the self-care skills that officers should be equipped with are Time Management, Physical Fitness, Financial Wisdom, Balance in Life, Relationship Health, Career Planning, Sleep Management, Organisational Stress, and Psychological Health and Resilience.

PSG's Senior Police Clinical Psychologist, Mr Eddie Li, can hardly agree more with Dr Kirschman's advice and suggestions. "Dr Kirschman's advice and suggestions are exactly what we're trying to hammer home through the present mental health campaign! And we'll do our best in this direction!" Mr Li noted.

Dr Ellen Kirschman is impressed with the work of the PSG