Written Replies to Parliamentary Questions

Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Ministry’s Review on Requiring Frontline Officers with the Singapore Police Force to Undergo Psychological First-aid Training, by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Published: 03 March 2021

Question:


Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs whether he can provide an update on the Ministry’s review on requiring frontline officers with the Singapore Police Force to undergo psychological first-aid training to improve the quality of response to attempted suicides.

 

Answer:


1.    Police completed a review of their training programme in February 2021 and assess that the elements of psychological first-aid training in the programme are adequate for now. For instance, the training programme for frontline police officers, such as the Ground Response Forces, covers suicide intervention skills such as empathising with emotionally distressed individuals in order to be able to assist them appropriately.