Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has called for greater institutional attention to the mental health and overall wellbeing of security personnel.
Disu said the psychological demands of policing and other security duties made mental-health support essential to professional performance, sound decision-making and public safety.
He spoke 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 challenges among security personnel.
Represented by Force Medical Director Nkechi Eze, the IGP said officers were routinely exposed to crime scenes, dangerous encounters, human suffering, grieving families and high-pressure decisions.
Those experiences, he said, could create significant emotional and psychological strain.
Disu argued that mental health should not be treated as a sign of weakness.
Instead, he said it was an important part of human wellbeing, leadership, productivity and effective service.
The IGP called for stronger systems to promote awareness, identify problems early and provide professional psychosocial support.
He also urged security institutions to create an environment in which officers could seek help without fear of stigma, punishment or discrimination.
The police chief stressed that every person in uniform remained a human being with personal pressures, vulnerabilities and emotional needs.
He said better support for officers would strengthen both institutional effectiveness and the quality of interaction between security personnel and the public.
The intervention reflects growing recognition that occupational stress, trauma and burnout among police and other security services can have consequences for both personnel welfare and operational performance.
