The Federal Government has been urged to set up a mental health desk in police stations across the country in a bid to improve the medical condition of members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Mind Management Foundation spoke during a mental health awareness training organised for selected members of the police force in Lagos.
The event was part of activities marking World Mental Health Day.
Mental health issues are said to be prevalent among the armed forces, police, and other paramilitary bodies which is one of the reasons for the excesses in some of the personnel.
Foundation’s Country Director, Barr. Arinze Emmanuel alluded to the role of the police officers in protecting the lives of the citizens and enforcing law and order in the country, saying their mental health condition should be improved.
He said, “We found out that a lot of people are under immense pressure because of what they go through, that has now made mental health like a pandemic.
“We want to call on the government, corporate bodies and all concerned persons to look at this area, it is a major concern, it requires the attention of the authorities, media and corporate bodies to help us fight this dangerous trend.”
He also advised the federal government to set aside budgetary allocation specifically for mental health.
“In this part of the world, mental health is not so much important to our government because you can see that when you look at the budgetary allocation to that but in other parts of the world where they understand it, they give it a lot of attention in their budgetary expenditure and in other parts of the economy,” he said.
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, AIG Idowu Owohunwa, said there is no office designated to check the mental health of the police officers apart from the general medical attention given to them.
The CP who was represented by the state’s Deputy PPRO, DSP Stephen Kuti, urged beneficiaries of the training to utilize what they learnt.
“I want to implore all police officers here in little or no small measure, let’s see how we could cooperate with members of this foundation and let’s see how they could help us improve our mental state.”
“This sensitization will go far in the mind of our police officers. Officers here will take the message down to their various divisions and will sensitize their other colleagues,” he said.
