Soldiers need post-duty supervision: Psychologist<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Soldiers who have been on stressful assignments need constant
\nsupervision as their performance on duty and mental health may
\nsuffer the consequences, a psychologist says.
\n "Stress occurs when achievements and expectations are going in
\nopposite ways. When a person's fortress is knocked down, it will
\ntrigger aggressive behavior," the head of the University of
\nIndonesia's public service clinic for applied psychology, Indri
\nSavitri, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
She was commenting on an incident on Sunday, when a soldier
\nopened fire on a group of his peers, killing one person and
\nleaving three others wounded. The Army soldiers were among the
\nJakarta Military Command personnel who were backing up security
\narrangements for the Asian-African Summit and its preceding
\nprograms throughout last week.<\/p>\n
First Lt. Sri Tigo Kencono died early on Monday at the Army's
\nGatot Subroto Hospital (RSPAD), spokesman for the Jakarta
\nMilitary Lt. Col. Apang Sopandi said. Sri Tigo was buried in
\nMenteng Pulo public cemetery in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The soldier, who was a graduate of Brawijaya University's
\nschool of engineering in Malang, is survived by his wife and 10-
\nmonth-old baby.<\/p>\n
Neither Sopandi or the RSPAD doctors were willing to disclose
\nspecific information on the gunshot wounds that Sri Tigo
\nsuffered.<\/p>\n
Indri said that any individual who was moody, pessimistic or
\nextremely sensitive could fall victim to a stress disorder.<\/p>\n
"Therefore, an individual with a stress disorder needs to get
\nsupport, such as from their family, enough rest and receive
\npersonal or religious counseling to overcome their problems,"
\nsaid Indri.<\/p>\n
The shooter, identified as First Priv. Bachtiar Chaniago
\nopened fired on his peers after an afternoon nap. He was
\nsuffering from stress and will be examined by a psychiatrist,
\nSopandi said.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Jakarta Military Police Col. Otte Ruchiyat said
\nBachtiar had been named a suspect. Investigators will question
\nhim and a number of witnesses, including members of his family,
\nto get an idea of his mental health.<\/p>\n
"The questioning will provide us with the details of his
\nmotive, so that we can determine the punishment that will be
\nhanded down to him," Otte said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Apang, said, however, that the soldier would be punished
\nregardless of what had sparked the incident.<\/p>\n
In August last year a Navy officer, First Lt. Fredick
\nSimorangkir, shot five Army soldiers while they were on duty in
\nthe conflict-torn province of Aceh. Four of the soldiers were
\nkilled.<\/p>\n
Military prosecutors said Fredick was severely depressed and
\nunder the influence of drugs at the time of the shooting.<\/p>\n
During martial law in Aceh between May 2003 and May 2004, the
\nIndonesian Military deployed 25,000 troops to flush out Free Aceh
\nMovement rebels. Each soldier was on duty for no longer than six
\nmonths, for the benefit of their mental health. (004)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soldiers-need-post-duty-supervision-psychologist-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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