LASTMA Hosts 2026 Community Trauma Awareness Campaign, Organises Two-Day Workshop for Principal Officers in Oshodi
Picnews
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen staff welfare, emotional resilience, and institutional development, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), in partnership with the African Trauma Care Alliance, has held a two-day intensive workshop for Principal Officers under the Community Trauma Awareness Campaign 2026 at the LASTMA Training Institute in Oshodi.
The programme, themed “Restoring Minds and Building Trauma-Informed Communities,” focused on improving understanding of traumatic stress, emotional intelligence, mental well-being, and the importance of fostering compassionate, psychologically responsive communities.
In his welcome remarks, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, highlighted the need to prioritise mental health and emotional stability, especially among public servants who regularly face demanding operational conditions.
He explained that traffic officers are often exposed to distressing incidents such as fatal accidents, confrontations with motorists, environmental risks, and emergency rescue situations, making consistent psychological support and trauma-informed care essential.
He added that the workshop represents a strategic investment in human capacity development, aimed at equipping officers with resilience, coping skills, and empathetic leadership abilities necessary for effective service delivery.
He also commended the organisers and mental health advocates for delivering a timely initiative designed to strengthen institutional resilience and improve interpersonal relations within society.
Speaking at the event, the President of the Jars Traumatic Stress Institute and Founder of ATCA, Professor Akindotun Meiro, noted that globally, one in every three people experiences a mental health condition in their lifetime, with trauma being a major cause.
She explained that traumatic experiences arising from poverty, political instability, communal conflicts, gender-based violence, kidnapping, domestic abuse, wars, and other societal challenges continue to leave deep psychological impacts on millions worldwide.
The workshop further examined the harmful effects of untreated trauma, noting that beyond emotional distress, it can contribute to chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, and long-term emotional imbalance that affect productivity and social well-being.
Participants were also educated on the strong link between emotional and physical health, with facilitators stressing the need for accessible and quality mental healthcare services.
Organisers noted that the annual Traumatic Stress Awareness Walk, led by the Jars Education Group in collaboration with ATCA, has grown into a global movement promoting mental wellness and supporting trauma survivors across Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Stakeholders described the initiative as a collective call to action, emphasising that trauma is treatable and manageable when communities intentionally create supportive environments for healing, dialogue, and recovery.
The workshop concluded with renewed calls on governments, organisations, healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders to support mental health advocacy efforts aimed at reducing stigma and restoring hope to individuals affected by traumatic stress.
Adebayo Taofiq
Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA
