Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu has stated that the Lagos Sate Employee Wellness (LASWELL) centre initiative of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration is timely and in consonance with the Health and Environment pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda, which represents Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century state; Security and Governance.
Dawodu stated this at the launch of the Wellness Centre by the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
He noted that the appropriate timing of the project will afford civil servants the opportunity to present themselves for medical advice in this era of ever-increasing socio-economic challenges, in addition to work-related stress and home front challenges.
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“The fact that the rate of depression, hopelessness and lack of self-actualisation has assumed unprecedented dimension in our society today is enough to invest in the system. As a responsible government, we are taking this step to nip the development in the bud”, Dawodu added.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Yewande Falugba explained that the Lagos State Employee Wellness Centre (LASWELL) was set up for the mental stability and management of common mental health disorders of Lagos State Public Servants.
She revealed that employees can only continue to contribute their quota to the attainment of a Greater Lagos when they are alive and in good health.
She implored Civil Servants to take advantage of the Centre as a way of regaining self-confidence, self-worth and self-actualisation, and even reintegration to the society rather than submitting to hopelessness, depression, substance abuse or considering suicide as an option.
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LASWELL Centre, with the motto: “Total Wellness for Public Servants”, is located within the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic at the Secretariat, Alausa.
Services like mental health counselling, psychotherapy, initial diagnostic assessment, organisational psychology and referral, among others, will be provided by Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologist and Social Welfare Officers.
