No fewer than thirty stakeholders were on Thursday trained on how to provide psychosocial support to people in psychological distress by Osun Agency for Community and Social Development Project, CSDP.
The event, which was held at BenBer Foundation in Osogbo, the state capital was aimed at reducing depression rate, suicide, emotional traima and to ensure victims undergoing psychological trauma are given adequate attention, support and rehabilitation needed during their trying times.
The General Manager of Osun CSDP, Mrs Funmi Abokede in her opening remark highlighted the relevance of the training to the present period. She said the reality of COVID-19 has set in and will soon become more pronounced as some people whose livelihoods have been affected will be in dare need of psychosocial support.
She said, “The training is very relevant and even timely as this period of COVID-19 pandemic where people whose livelihoods have been negatively impacted upon by COVID-19 need psychosocial support. Hence, the need for capacity building of stakeholders involved in giving psychosocial support.
Abokede added that the trainees were drawn from different sectors in order to have an all-inclusive training.
“Among the trainees are health workers, local government workers, desk officers from mini’s of health, community leaders, members of civil society people from different vulnerable groups such as people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities and so on.
“We believe when their capacity are built, they can then go back to improve capacity of others in their various communities in order to give psychosocial support to people affected by this COVID-19 pandemic and other vices.
The CSDP head also assured that more people are going to be trained in subsequent weeks in order to have more people trained on psychosocial support. She said among the aims of the association is to put end to depression and suicide in the society.
Among the participants that spoke with Insight Media described the programme as a life-impacting one, stressing that the training they have received will go a long way in impacting the society.
In his comment, a retired principal at the School for Children with special needs, Osogbo, Mr Awesu Gasali Olagoke described the programme as a required course for everyone, stating that it purifies mind and encourage giving support.
He said, “the programme is very good for everyone. If fully implemented, the whole country will be free of people living with trauma as they will feel among.”
Another participant, Mrs Eni Ayeni who is the Coordinator of a non-governmental organization, Community Advancement Initiative for Self-Reliance, described the training as timely.
She said “the programme is timely, considering the period we are. Psychosocial support is very important. This training will help our organization as many people who come around for eye treatment always show the need for psychosocial support.
