Boksburg SAPS gets a ‘Breathe room’ to improve staff wellbeing

This welcoming relaxation room is the brainchild of one of the senior officers at the station

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele cuts the ribbon to mark the official opening of the room. With her is the project initiator Captain Susan Meyer.

For the first time, Boksburg SAPS staff members, including police officers, support staff and groundsmen, have a safe space to take a few minutes out after particularly traumatic events they may have encountered in their line of duty.

The ‘breathe room’, which was opened to help members deal with their daily traumatic experiences and recharge for on their next assignments, was launched at the police station on November 9.
It was designed, decorated and furnished in a way that creates a calming feel with appropriate material, including pictures, music, and soft lighting, as well as pamphlets and booklets with information on trauma, mental illness, how to do self-referrals and other health information.

This welcoming relaxation room is the brainchild of one of the senior officers Captain Susan Meyer.
She revealed this was born out of her research for her recent studies on violence, trauma, suicide and other mental-related issues, particularly in the police force.

“I found that as police officers we need a safe space to breathe after all the traumatic scenes or violent crimes we encounter. We are also human beings and
need to look after ourselves holistically – our bodies, our minds and our spirits. I hope that this will benefit us all as our sanctuary where we can go to and cry if we
have to,” said Meyer.
“I know in the police we have a special coping mechanism, but it is not all good. Those incidents stay with us for a very long time, if not forever and eventually develop in a harmful way, which, like a steam kettle, wreaks havoc when bottled up too long.

“We tend to bottle up the traumatic incidents, violence, yelling, shouting, name calling and sometimes negative publicity in the media. All of these things have a very
serious impact on our mental health.
“In that room, there is material to help members with coping skills. It’s just where you can privately have a safe space to be yourself. I hope this will be created in all the stations.”

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele thanked Meyer and the sponsors for creating this space, which she believes will boost well-being
in the force that has an alarming level of reported cases of mental illness among police officers.

“When Meyer suggested this room to me, I said maybe I will be the first one to use it, because of all the things we are going through here daily. As police officers, our job is stressful and this will help to improve the physical and mental health of our workforce,” said Mbele.

This is the newly opened welcoming space. Seen here are station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele and Lieutenant Colonel BC Ndwandwe, the support head.

She pointed out that recent statistics released by one of the local government medical aid schemes revealed that there are thousands of police officers going through
mental illnesses in the country.
This also negatively impacts their dependents’ mental health.
The project was supported by locals, who donated the renovation, furnishing and decorating supplies, as well as booklets on mental health for the new facility.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to one of the staff members, Concillia Mamogobo, who assisted with arrangements for the opening of the newly created ‘breathing room’. With them is the project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to Sipho Maisela from PolyFlor that sponsored the flooring. With them is the project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to Thapelo Moela andTebogo Moela of TPT Group Architecture and Project Management. With them is the project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to Reverend Captain Booysens of the SAPS’ Employee Health and Wellness Unit, who graced the ‘breathing room’ launch with his attendance. With them is the project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to one of the staff members, who assisted with arrangements for the opening of the newly created breathing room. With them is the project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to staff member Warrant Officer Rika Wolmarans who assisted with arrangements to create the facility. With them are the project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer and other attendees of the opening.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to one of the sponsors of the newly created breathing room. With them is the project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to staff member S Sahadeo who assisted with arrangements to create the facility. With them is the project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to Marily Honicke who volunteered to paint the room. The project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer and other attendees of the opening look on.

Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele hands over a token of appreciation to Mukesh Govender from POLMED. He assisted with the pamphlets and some promotional gifts. With them are the project’s initiator Captain Susan Meyer and other attendees of the opening.

Also Read: Five ways to recharge your mental health