The Fiji Police Force and Lifeline Fiji yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting and developing co-operation in the field of development of counselling services with regards to suicide.

The MOU was signed between the Fiji Police Force and Lifeline Fiji that would see the development of counselling services and the promotion and management of emotional wellbeing of Police officers with the aim of reducing the vulnerability of the general public to suicide and to other major crimes and incidents.

With the current suicide figures standing at 55 compared to 75 for the same period last year, Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said the partnership was timely as suicide cases were becoming too prevalent.

“It’s alarming to see the number of suicide and attempted suicide cases arising from issues that could have been avoided such as relationships gone wrong or people feeling pressured,” he said.

“We are happy that we have Lifeline on board and now we can call you and get your professional help because Police are not qualified counsellors even though people think that we are supposed to be but that’s something I believe should be left to qualified counsellors as our job is to investigate”.

Lifeline Fiji executive director Archana Mani said they were eager to get the newly formed working relationship underway.

“We are happy to partner with the Fiji Police Force with regards to addressing the issue of suicide and attempted suicide cases as they have a pivotal role in reducing the statistics.”

Source: Police Media Cell

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