The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has organised a two-day mental health management retreat for its senior officers as part of efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and improve workforce resilience.
The retreat, held on Saturday at Pearlwort Hotel in Ikeja, focused on equipping emergency responders with tools to manage stress, enhance teamwork, and improve operational efficiency ahead of the new year.
Speaking at the event, LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said emergency response duties expose personnel to significant psychological pressures, making mental health support critical to effective disaster management.
“The nature of emergency management puts responders at risk of mental health challenges, which is why it is important for them to take time out to relax, refresh, and improve productivity,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
He noted that the training aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to strengthening emergency management systems in Lagos, adding that the administration’s interventions have contributed to a reduction in emergencies across the state.
“If you look at our government holistically, we have tackled a lot of emergencies, and we are always on top of these emergencies. We are able to remain in charge because we have viable emergency responders who work as a team to ensure the safety of lives and property,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu urged responders to prioritise their mental well-being, stressing that emergency personnel are not immune to psychological challenges associated with high-risk duties.
“We have discovered that there are mental health challenges these days which our workforce is not immune to, so we have to enlighten them on how they can reorient themselves and prevent mental health issues, because they are prone to them as emergency responders,” he added.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Sesan Ogundeko, commended LASEMA’s proactive approach to emergency response, expressing confidence that the training would improve disaster mitigation and response capacity.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olawale Age-Sulaiman, said the Lagos State House of Assembly would continue to monitor the agency’s activities to ensure it remains aligned with its mandate as the state’s emergency coordinating body.
He also pledged the Assembly’s support to ensure disaster management remains a priority within the state’s governance framework.
Highlights of the retreat included sessions on teamwork, stress management, and coping strategies for economic and operational challenges in a dynamic environment.
