The Commission has called for a stronger culture of mental wellness, prevention and support within the National Police Service, noting that the wellbeing of officers is central to effective public service.
The Commission participated in the 5th National Mental Wellness & Counselling Conference, themed “Creating Mentally Healthy Workplaces: From Awareness to Action.” The conference was graced by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development, Prof. Jane Kere Imbunya, PhD, and brought together stakeholders from government, human resource management, counselling, psychology and related fields.
Putting the Person Behind the Uniform First
Addressing the conference, NPSC Commissioner Angeline Siparo highlighted the unique pressures faced by police officers, including exposure to violence, trauma, accidents, death and conflict.
She emphasised that behind every uniform is a person who, despite being resilient and committed to duty, may still need support.
“Behind every uniform is a person. A person with a family waiting at home. A person who has fears, hopes, disappointments and responsibilities. A person who can be deeply resilient and still need help.”
Commissioner Angeline Siparo
Commissioner Siparo called for a shift from responding to mental health challenges only when they reach crisis level to identifying and addressing concerns much earlier.
“We should not wait for an officer to reach breaking point before asking whether they are okay. We should be asking earlier.”
Building a Culture of Wellness
The Commissioner challenged supervisors and managers to create workplaces where officers can speak openly, receive support and access professional help without stigma or fear of disadvantage.
She noted that workplace wellness extends beyond counselling services to include workload, staffing, scheduling, communication, leadership and workplace relationships.
“A wellness centre is a building. Wellness is a culture.”
The Commission’s commitment to officer wellbeing is also reflected in the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Act, 2025, which strengthened the Commission’s responsibility for the mental health and wellbeing of members of the Service, including counselling and psychosocial support and its devolution to county police headquarters.
Supporting Those Who Serve
Commissioner Siparo also encouraged young officers entering the Service to recognise that seeking help is not a sign of weakness.
“Protecting others must not require you to abandon yourself.”
She further highlighted the role of families in supporting officers, noting that the pressures of policing can extend beyond the workplace and affect spouses, children, parents and other loved ones.
The conference reinforced the need to move from awareness to action, from stigma to support, and from crisis response to prevention
