The Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), managers of the Ireti Resource Centre, has concluded a three-day Mental Health Clinic for frontline Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) responders in Lagos State, aimed at protecting the emotional and psychological wellbeing of those who serve survivors daily.
Supported by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), the clinic held from February 3 to 5, 2026, under the theme “Saving the Soul That Serves,” and brought together counsellors, police officers, social workers, legal practitioners, health professionals, case managers, and NGO staff who work directly with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
The programme addressed the hidden burden carried by responders who are constantly exposed to trauma, distressing narratives, and emotionally demanding situations — leaving many vulnerable to burnout, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion.
WRAHP described the clinic as a safe and restorative space for reflection, healing, learning, and renewal, designed to ensure that those who care for survivors are not left unsupported.
The sessions focused on promoting mental wellbeing, emotional resilience, and self-care; addressing burnout and work-related stress; equipping participants with tools for stress management and emotional regulation; and strengthening survivor-centered systems by sustaining the people who provide care.
Speaking on the initiative, Bose Ironsi, Executive Director of WRAHP, stressed the importance of protecting responders’ mental health.
“We often speak about caring for survivors, but we must also care for those who carry these stories every day. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
This Mental Health Clinic is about restoring strength, protecting hearts, and ensuring that the people who serve are also supported,” she said.
Beyond institutional goals, participants described the clinic as deeply personal and transformative.
Omolola Odutola, a Chief Superintendent of Police and frontline responder, said the training reshaped how she engages with survivors.
“The last three days have been engaging, insightful, and eye-opening. I learned new concepts like the ‘T concept’ and truly understood what it means not to be judgmental. The key competencies I’m taking back are to respect survivors, avoid ‘why’ questions, allow them to settle, come down to their level, and be their friend.
Cultural stereotypes can stop you from giving proper support. This training has enlarged my horizon and will trickle down to my office and everyone I work with,” she said.
She commended WRAHP for bringing together diverse professionals and cultures in one learning space.
“We had lawyers, police officers, NGOs, and people from different cultural backgrounds. I give kudos to WRAHP because what I’m taking back will help me treat survivors better and lecture others with a stronger foundation,” Odutola added.
For legal practitioners, the clinic also bridged the gap between law and emotional intelligence.
Amaka Agianpuye, a Lagos-based lawyer, described the programme as one of the most fulfilling experiences of her career.
“I’m going to take on my practice from a new dimension. I’m not a psychologist, but now I feel equipped to manage my clients better — understanding their perspective, their difficulties, and helping them come out of mental and emotional stress.
I’ve learned about self-care, emotional boundaries, and coping tools. I feel less burdened and more able to express myself,” she said.
She added that the interactive sessions and informal engagements made learning both practical and refreshing.
“It’s been fun learning, teaching, and healing at the same time. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity,” Agianpuye noted.
From the NGO sector, Aderemi Blessing, Programme Coordinator of the Zach and Eunice We Care Foundation, said the clinic strengthened her professional and personal capacity.
“This programme allowed me to express myself, connect to survivors’ stories, and learn emotional boundaries — when to stop and when to continue.
I’m a workaholic, but the clinical and psychological sessions taught me how to debrief, get support, and use grounding techniques like listening, touching, and focusing,” she explained.
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She noted that the training helped her uncover emotional weight she had unconsciously carried.
“There are many invisible notes we keep in our bodies that we don’t realize. This program helped me identify them, and I’m taking this knowledge back to my organization to train others in the community to communicate better and help survivors more effectively,” Blessing said.
According to WRAHP, the clinic featured resilience-building exercises, coping strategies, counselling sessions, and peer support frameworks, enabling participants to build lasting networks for mutual assistance beyond the programme.
By investing in the wellbeing of frontline responders, WRAHP is strengthening the quality, humanity, and sustainability of SGBV response systems in Lagos State.
The organization emphasized that healthy and supported professionals are better positioned to deliver empathetic, ethical, and effective services to survivors.
The initiative forms part of AWDF’s broader commitment to strengthening survivor-centered systems and safeguarding the mental health of those who uphold them across communities.