By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has organised a two-day Trauma-Informed Care Workshop for Principal Officers as part of activities marking the 2026 International Mental Health Awareness Month.

The workshop, held at the LASTMA Training Institute in Oshodi, was organised in collaboration with Professor Akindotun Meiro, founder of the African Trauma Care Alliance.

Speaking during the programme themed “Restoring Minds and Building Trauma-Informed Communities,” the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the initiative was designed to strengthen emotional resilience and improve workplace productivity among officers.

Bakare-Oki noted that LASTMA personnel regularly encounter traumatic situations, including fatal road crashes, hostile encounters with motorists, emergency rescue operations and other high-risk duties.

According to him, the workshop became necessary to equip officers with coping strategies, emotional intelligence and leadership skills needed for effective service delivery.

“The workshop represents a deliberate investment in human capital development aimed at equipping officers with emotional resilience, adaptive coping strategies and empathetic leadership capabilities,” he said.

The LASTMA boss also commended Professor Meiro and mental health advocacy groups for promoting mental wellness and trauma recovery initiatives.

In her presentation, Professor Meiro, who is also President of the Jars Traumatic Stress Institute, said one out of every three persons globally experiences a mental health condition during their lifetime.

She identified trauma arising from economic hardship, insecurity, gender-based violence, kidnapping, domestic abuse and armed conflicts as major contributors to emotional and psychological distress.

Professor Meiro warned that untreated trauma could also lead to chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune disorders.

She stressed the need for accessible and inclusive mental healthcare services in workplaces and communities.

The mental health expert further disclosed that the annual Traumatic Stress Awareness Walk organised by the Jars Education Group in collaboration with ATCA and international partners has expanded into a global advocacy movement supporting trauma survivors across Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Participants at the workshop described the initiative as timely and impactful, noting that trauma can be effectively treated when societies create safe and supportive environments for healing and emotional recovery.

The workshop ended with renewed calls on governments, organisations, healthcare professionals and community leaders to intensify mental health awareness campaigns and tackle the stigma associated with trauma and emotional disorders.