By Kelechi Ogunleye

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) FCT Command on Monday organised a mental health awareness workshop on the importance of maintaining sound mental health while ensuring the safety of citizens.

Speaking at the opening of the training the FFS FCT Controller, Mohammed Anas, said the essence of a healthy reasoning cannot be overemphasised.

The controller said that the service remained committed to promoting not only physical safety but the mental and emotional wellbeing of its personnel, noting that a healthy mind is essential for effective service delivery.

Anas urged the participants to cooperate with the trainers who are medical experts in learning how to cope with mental challenges attached to the job.

He said that it was important for the brain of firefighters to be in healthy state at all times due to the trauma accompanied by the job exposure.

According to the controller, the service has a record of officers and men who are struggling with their mental health due to their exposure to gory scenes while combating fire.

He said that such experiences necessitated the training for personnel on mental and psychological health.

Anas said that the FFS through the Ministry of Interior has been able to activate an active insurance policy for firefighters.

A Clinical psychologist, Comfort Akomalafe, said that it was important for security operatives to identify the emotions they feel, why they feel it and also the healthy way to deal with such emotions.

“So let’s say for instance, an emergency has happened and the feeling is fear or frustration, the ability to be able to stay calm, pause and clearly analyse what to do next is why we are here.

“I think that it is very, very important in being able to provide an effective means to controlling fire. So, I look forward to having a very interesting workshop with the fire service officers today,” Akomolafe said.

A mental health advocate, Dr Emeka Enumah, said that the training was aimed at educating personnel on how to deal with everyday challenges as well as to build resilience.

“Life comes with stress and it is important that we equip security operatives who are a vulnerable group of individuals and are very prone to stress on how to cope by equipping them with stress coping skills.

“Tell them all it takes to be mentally fit and mentally resilient as regards to everyday life challenges and situations,” Enumah said.(NAN)(www.nannews,ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza