The Osun State Police Command has urged its personnel to prioritise their mental health and seek professional support whenever necessary to improve their well-being and service delivery.
The Head of the Police Hospital, Osun State Police Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr Iyiola Ogundimite, made the call during a mental health awareness lecture organised for officers to commemorate World Mental Health Day.
The event, held in recognition of the annual observance on October 10, was part of an initiative of the Nigeria Police Force to sensitise personnel to the importance of mental well-being.
Ogundimite said good mental health was essential for sound judgement, professionalism, effective decision-making and respectful engagement with members of the public.
He explained that police officers were routinely exposed to stressful situations, security challenges, emergency responses and other occupational pressures that could affect their psychological and emotional well-being.
According to her, “the awareness programme was designed to promote mental well-being, strengthen emotional resilience and improve the effectiveness of police personnel in carrying out their duties.”
The guest lecturer, psychiatrist Dr T. Ayantola of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State, highlighted the importance of stress management, adequate rest, healthy relationships and peer support in maintaining good mental health.
Ayantola also stressed the need for early identification of signs of psychological distress, encouraging officers to seek assistance from qualified mental health professionals when necessary.
Participants were urged to support colleagues experiencing mental health challenges and avoid stigmatising those who needed psychological or emotional assistance.
The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Zungura, said the Force recognised mental health awareness as an integral part of police welfare and an important factor in effective policing.
Zungura noted that officers who were mentally and emotionally healthy were better equipped to discharge their constitutional responsibilities effectively while respecting the fundamental human rights of citizens.
He encouraged personnel to adopt healthy coping strategies and maintain a proper work-life balance, assuring them that the command remained committed to promoting their physical, psychological and emotional well-being to enhance service delivery and public safety.
Osun: Police urge officers to prioritise mental health, seek support