Building Resilient Protectors: A Study of Mental Health Stigma and Support Systems among Police Trainees at Regional Training Center XI

This study investigates about whether mental health stigma persists and if support systems work well for police trainees in Davao City’s Regional Training Center 11 (RTC 11). Trainees’ mental health needs are often neglected by cultural stigma and the lack of formal support programs though they are physically and tactically prepared. The research, using a qualitative case study along with thematic analysis of 20 participants, confirms the persistence of stigma, the inadequacy of institutional programs such as “Bantay Kaisipan,” and the cultural pressures that discourage trainees from seeking help. Importantly, the study contributes toward policy and practice underscoring that curricula need to integrate mental health literacy, systems need to support confidentially and accessibly, professionals need to deploy, and RTC staff need to build capacity. The study identifies these gaps as well as recommends actionable reforms. This study is what informs institutional policies that have the aim to foster a police force that is more resilient and compassionate.