Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has called for greater attention to the mental health and overall wellbeing of security personnel, saying psychological health is essential to professional performance and sound decision-making.
The IGP made the call at the 2026 Men’s Mental Health Conference organized by the Peace Progress and Unity Global Initiative.
The conference focused on breaking the silence around mental-health support for men in the security services.
Represented by Force Medical Director Nkechi Eze, Disu said the psychological needs of security personnel had been neglected for too long.
He argued that mentally healthy officers were better equipped to serve effectively and contribute to public safety.
The IGP said mental health should not be treated as a sign of weakness but as a core component of human wellbeing, productivity, leadership and service delivery.
He highlighted the particular pressures associated with policing and security work.
Officers, he said, routinely respond to crime scenes, confront dangerous situations, witness human suffering, interact with distressed families and make critical decisions under intense pressure.
Those experiences can create sustained psychological stress.
Disu said every person in uniform remained a human being with emotions, vulnerabilities and personal challenges that should be acknowledged and supported.
He called for stronger institutional systems to promote mental-health awareness, identify problems earlier and provide access to professional psychosocial services.
The IGP also urged security institutions to reduce stigma and create environments in which personnel could seek help without fear of discrimination or professional consequences.
The intervention adds to growing attention to occupational stress, trauma and burnout among frontline security personnel and the impact those pressures can have on both officer welfare and public-facing performance.
