A non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Idimma Health Initiative has trained the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on the ways to identify and respond to people living with mental issues in Kaduna State.
In the two-day workshop, the Executive Director of the group, Aisha Buba, explained the role of security personnel in responding to mental health victims, including those attempting to commit suicide.
The security force is trained to be first responders to such cases.
Buba highlighted the importance of the training, saying it will aid in equipping the force to handle such health issues quickly and ensure the victims receive adequate support before further steps.
She further explained that the shortage of mental health professionals was the purpose of the training.
She said, “For the fact that we do not have adequate psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals, we are training other stakeholders like police officers.
“We are here to train the police officers on psychological first aid, which essentially equips them with skills to identify mental health issues when they are called into crisis situations, enabling them to handle and respond to such cases better.”
Buba explained that in Nigeria, suicide is considered a crime punishable by up to a year in prison. However, educating police to see it as a mental health issue could lead to more compassionate responses.
“When crises occur, the first person typically called to the scene is a police officer. Even if the situation is medical or injury-related, the police are often the first to assess the situation before any further action is taken,” she noted.
Buba added that the training aims to equip police officers with basic mental health skills to provide immediate support until individuals can access specialised care.
