Namibia: Ohangwena Police Urged to Prioritise Mental Health

What the report says

Ohangwena regional police commander Commissioner Ottilie Kashuupulwa has urged police leaders in northern Namibia to give greater attention to officers’ mental health and overall well-being. Speaking at the Ohangwena Regional Police Wellness Day at the regional headquarters in Eenhana, she said stress and personal difficulties were beginning to affect officers’ performance, productivity and public service.

According to the New Era report distributed by AllAfrica, Kashuupulwa said the regional leadership had noticed a significant number of officers dealing with mental health challenges. She linked the problem to the demands of policing, including exposure to traumatic incidents, irregular hours, night duty and other operational pressures that can affect both work and family life.

The event also included contributions from other speakers. Detective Chief Inspector Melele Hangula, who leads the Police Conduct and Investigation Sub-Division and serves on the police mental health committee, said officers regularly encounter distressing scenes such as road crashes, violent crime, domestic abuse, child abuse and sudden deaths. She encouraged openness, peer support and counselling. A social worker and a financial adviser also spoke about the links between mental health, emotional strain and money problems, urging people to seek help and manage finances carefully. The broader message was that wellness support can improve both officer safety and service delivery.