PROACTIVE STRESS MANAGEMENT: THE NATURE, EFFECT AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE’S “MANAGING STRESS EFFECTIVELY” PROGRAMME

Abstract

The need for a stress-management programme can generally be attributed to the fact that police work is often extremely stressful and that police officials tend to suffer from a variety of stressinduced physiological, psychological and behavioural disorders. McCraty, Atkinson and Tompson (1999:1-3) argue that particular attention should be given to occupational stress in policing as its potentially negative consequences affect society in more direct and critical ways than for most other organisations. It was, therefore, crucial that a stress-management programme should be developed for the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Keywords

• stress management
• police work
• south african police service
• saps