From 29 to 31 May 2026, the Third International Conference of Police Unions was held in Igalo, Montenegro, on the topic „"Psychological Stress and Trauma in Police Work: Prevention, Intervention and Rehabilitation"“.
The conference was attended by representatives of police unions and organizations from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, and our representative was Kristina Ampeva, president of Glasen Sindikat, president of Glasen Tekstilec and secretary general of the "5th Force" Trade Union Confederation.
The conference opened an extremely important topic that concerns not only police officers, but also the functioning of institutions and the safety of citizens. The participants concluded that psychological support must become an integral part of the professional preparedness of police officers, and not a topic that is kept quiet about or perceived as a weakness.
The need for:
- reducing the stigma associated with seeking professional help;
- early recognition of stress and professional burnout;
- developing reliable and accessible psychological support systems;
- management education and mutual support programs;
- institutional mechanisms for intervention and rehabilitation after traumatic events.
As representatives of the trade union movement, we support the message that strong institutions are not built only with equipment and powers, but above all with people who have dignified working conditions, adequate support and protection of their physical and mental health.
It was particularly emphasized that caring for the mental health of employees is not a cost, but an investment in better institutions, higher quality public services, and a safer society.
We thank the Independent Police Union of Montenegro for the invitation, organization and opportunity to exchange experiences and good practices with union representatives from the region.
