In recognition of the pressing need to address mental health concerns among the armed forces, police, and paramilitary personnel in Nigeria, the Mind Management Foundation, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and solutions, has initiated a program to provide mental health training for over 200,000 members of the Nigerian Police Force.
News About Nigeria gathered that this program, which was launched at the Lagos Command, aligns with the foundation’s mission to address the critical issue of mental health in society.
During an event to commemorate the 2023 World Mental Health Day, Barrister Arinze Emmanuel, the Director of the Mind Management Foundation, emphasised the importance of mental health as a universal issue that affects individuals of all ages.
Emmanuel also highlighted that mental health challenges remain a primary underlying factor in cases of suicide.
The mental health awareness training program aims to positively impact the lives of police officers and their families, to create lasting change in their mindset and approach to mental health.
The foundation intends to conduct this initiative as a road tour, covering 200,000 police officers across Nigeria. The program’s reach is expected to extend beyond the officers themselves to encompass their families and friends.
Barrister Arinze Emmanuel further revealed that, alongside training initiatives, the Mind Management Foundation plans to establish counselling and mental health correctional centres in police barracks and offices within all 36 states of Nigeria, beginning with the police commands in Lagos State.
The Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, expressed his full support for the mental health awareness training program.
He recognised that many police officers in active service are in their prime and may be susceptible to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Owohunwa stressed the need for programs aimed at creating, implementing, assessing, and supervising psychotherapy services for young police officers and their families.
Such initiatives would help boost the morale of police officers, making them more committed to their roles and responsibilities.
The Commissioner of Police urged police personnel to provide the necessary support when the Mind Management Foundation calls on their division, emphasising the potential positive impact such programs can have on the mental well-being of officers and the broader community.
