The Dynamics of Depressive Symptoms on Criminal Investigators in Semarang (North Central Java) Police

Abstract

According to Sulistyanto (Assistant of Human Resources of Indonesian National Police), a large percentage of police suicide is related to depression. Police suicidal behaviors are serious social and psychological problems that must be anticipated and resolved. In 2016 there were 13 cases of police suicide and 5 cases of suicide attempts recorded in Indonesia. The incident was reduced in 2017 to be 7 cases, similarly in 2018, and in 2019 the cases turned to be 6. Further investigation indicates that one of the main reasons to commit suicide was depression. The purpose of the research was to portray the dynamics of depressive symptoms among the criminal investigators in order to anticipate and prevent further suicidal attempts. The Beck Depression Inventory II (1996) questionnaires were distributed to the criminal investigators in Semarang Police. The number of the questionnaires delivered were 9 and the overall response rate was 27 where 5 police scored 0 to the entire BDI questionnaires, 1 police scored 1 and the other participants scored 2, 6, and 18. Three participants with the highest scores were selected to participate in in-depth interviews. The interviews were conducted 2 times, 30 minutes each. The results indicated that 3 criminal investigators on duty in North Central Java Police were not vulnerable to have major depression disorder so that such suicidal behaviors would not be conducted in immediate time. Furthermore these individuals may be the references or role models for ones who are coping with depression symptoms. Further discussions are followed.