By Bavoriat Clara
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in partnership with Secure the Future Initiative (SDF), joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 World Mental Health Day in Abuja, focusing on the theme “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.”
The event highlighted the urgent need to integrate mental health care into responses during crises such as conflicts, natural disasters, and humanitarian emergencies, while reaffirming the Armed Forces’ commitment to the psychological well-being of its personnel and affected communities.
Representing the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Director of the Department of Civil–Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Olusola .F. Akinboyowa, delivered the opening remarks. He described the commemoration as both timely and significant, noting that members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria operate daily in demanding environments where they provide relief, security, and stability during crises. These experiences, he said, often come with immense psychological pressure.
“As members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, we work at the forefront of emergencies—providing relief, security, and hope in times of uncertainty. Yet, in fulfilling these noble duties, our personnel are exposed to immense psychological stress. The unseen wounds of trauma, stress, and fatigue can be just as debilitating as physical injuries,” he stated.
Akinboyowa emphasized that mental health is fundamental to operational effectiveness, adding that the Defence Headquarters recognises that the strength of the Armed Forces is measured not only by its equipment or firepower, but also by the mental and emotional stability of its personnel. “Through this collaboration with Secure the Future Initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting awareness, early intervention, and access to quality mental health services, especially in the most demanding operational environments,” he said.
He commended the organisers for creating a platform to exchange ideas, share experiences, and build institutional capacity for mental health support during emergencies. He further urged all participants to spread the message of mental health awareness beyond the event, noting that normalising conversations around mental well-being is essential to building resilience in both military and civilian populations.
In her welcome remarks, the Founder of Secure the Future Initiative, Mrs. Saidatu Adamy, expressed appreciation to the Defence Headquarters and other partners for making the event possible. She described the symposium as a call to action, collaboration, and implementation toward ensuring that mental health care is prioritised and made accessible across every sector of society, particularly within the nation’s security institutions.
“Mental health care is not merely a health concern—it is a national security imperative,” she stated. “A mentally healthy force is an effective, resilient, and mission-ready force.”
Mrs. Adamy stressed the importance of shifting focus from awareness creation to practical implementation, policy development, and early intervention. She called for more counselling support, rehabilitation services, and the establishment of safe spaces for recovery, both within military formations and in civilian communities. “Through this partnership and continued dialogue, we hope to strengthen systems that make mental health services affordable, available, and accessible—from the barracks to the battlefield, and from our institutions to our communities,” she added.
She expressed deep gratitude to the Chief of Defence Staff for his continuous support and for fostering a partnership that aligns mental health advocacy with national security priorities.
Providing an overview of the event, the Country Director of Secure the Future Initiative, Dr. Chinaemerem Iwuanyanwu, outlined the objectives, expected outcomes, and broader significance of the 2025 International Mental Health Day Symposium. He explained that the symposium served as a multi-sectoral platform bringing together the Armed Forces, government agencies, humanitarian organisations, development partners, and the media to address one of today’s most urgent challenges—the protection and promotion of mental health in humanitarian emergencies.
“For the Armed Forces, humanitarian workers, and affected civilians, mental health is not a luxury; it is a necessity for resilience, recovery, and reintegration,” he emphasised.
Dr. Iwuanyanwu outlined the Defence Headquarters’ ongoing initiatives through the Medical Corps and the Civil–Military Relations Department, which ensure access to mental health and psychosocial support for troops in both active duty and post-deployment phases. These include pre- and post-mission psychological evaluations, counselling, family support systems, chaplaincy services, and resilience programmes designed to strengthen morale and recovery.
He further described the Secure the Future Initiative (SDF) as a transformational force devoted to mind reformation, behaviour modification, counselling, and human capital development. Over the years, SDF has launched numerous impactful projects, including the School Mental Health Programme, with over 1,200 active student members and 24 volunteer counsellors receiving regular refresher courses; psychosocial support for survivors of human trafficking and abuse, benefiting over 500 girls; workplace mental health campaigns offering psychosocial education, seminars, and one-on-one counselling sessions; and a series of mental health conferences and counselling summits that have brought together leading experts in mental health advocacy and policy development across Nigeria.
“This symposium builds on the global call to integrate mental health into every level of humanitarian and security response. It reflects the CDS’s commitment to institutionalising mental health as a pillar of military professionalism, welfare, and national security,” Dr. Iwuanyanwu concluded.
In his keynote address, the Convener of the Nigerian Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, Professor Taiwo Sheikh, underscored the critical importance of embedding mental health frameworks into all national emergency and defence operations. He emphasised that mental health considerations must form part of policy planning, emergency response, and post-conflict rehabilitation, especially for uniformed personnel frequently exposed to life-threatening and high-stress environments.
Following the opening session, participants engaged in technical discussions, panel sessions, and knowledge-sharing activities focusing on practical strategies for strengthening psychosocial support systems within the military and humanitarian sectors. The event also featured an interactive segment and concluded with the presentation of a communiqué, outlining key resolutions for improving access to mental health services, fostering collaboration between security and health sectors, and advancing national policies that prioritise mental well-being as an essential component of human security.
The 2025 International Mental Health Day Symposium, held at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, reaffirmed the collective resolve of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Secure the Future Initiative, and their partners to promote mental health awareness, encourage open conversations, and build institutional resilience through sustained advocacy, training, and support. By aligning national security goals with human security imperatives, the event demonstrated that a mentally strong force is a strategically strong nation.
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