YENEGOA – The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Bayelsa, Mr Daniel Iyamah, has described sound mental health as a core strength that underpins effective policing.
Iyamah made the assertion on Thursday in Yenagoa at the opening of a specialised training programme on Integrated Mental Health, Trauma-Informed Care and Emergency Response, organised by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) for officers and men of the command.
The training is aimed at strengthening the psychological resilience, emotional intelligence and emergency response capacity of police personnel in the discharge of their constitutional duties.
A statement by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Musa Mohammed, quoted the CP as saying “mental health is the foundation upon which we build our lives, our relationships and our dreams.”
Iyamah commended the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, for his sustained commitment to capacity building and welfare driven interventions within the Nigeria Police Force.
He said that the training was timely and strategic given the complex security challenges confronting police officers, which often expose them to traumatic experiences.
The CP urged participants to take full advantage of the programme, apply the knowledge gained in their daily operations and serve as peer resource persons within the command.
According to him, officers who are mentally sound and emotionally balanced are better positioned to serve the public with professionalism, empathy and restraint.
He further assured that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to personnel development, welfare and best practices in policing, in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police. (NAN)
