Military spouses hold forum on PTSD, pledge support for officers
By Sumaila Ogbaje
The National Defence College Officers Wives Association (NDCOWA) has convened a forum to promote peer support and build resilience among families in managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with counter-terrorism operations.
The Coordinator of NDCOWA and Wive of NDC Commandant, Mrs Isabella Okosun, made this known at the forum tagged, “The Military Family and Mental Health” in Abuja.
Okosun said the forum was part of a series of events lined up for the graduation of NDC Course 33 slated for Friday.
The event brought together spouses of officers who are now advancing to the rank of generals in their military careers.
She said the programme was aimed at empowering wives with strategies to better support their husbands as they take on higher responsibilities.
“A lot of our officers have been deeply involved in counter-terrorism operations, especially in the North-East, and many families are grappling with the realities of PTSD.
“We thought this would be a good platform to network, learn, and find ways to support our husbands as they continue their careers,” she said.
Okosun added that the initiative was inspired by the President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Oghogho Musa, who she said, had consistently championed outreach to families of affected officers.
According to her, the DEPWOA President has been leading by example with visits to wounded soldiers and outreach programmes in places like Benue and Maiduguri.
“We are following the path she has laid by putting this forum together,” she said.
She pledged to sustain the initiative and collaborate with DEPWOA to provide greater psychosocial support to military families.
One of the resource persons, Dr Lewis Okoh, who is the Health Research Coordinator of the college, enlightened the participants on the courses, symptoms and prevention of PTSD.
Okoh said that nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts about combat/operations as well as withdrawing from loved ones, avoiding reminders of deployments or operations, among others, were symptoms.
He said that medical and psychological support and early diagnosis by consulting mental health professionals was important for effective management of PTSD.
According to him, peer groups like officers’ wives associations, military spouses’ circles, or NGOs that specialise in trauma recovery were other ways of managing it. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
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