WELFARE Officers and Guidance Counsellors of the Ministry of Education (MoE) School Welfare Department, on Wednesday, participated in a mental health workshop on the importance of self-care even as they care for others.
The workshop was conducted by Licensed Senior Psychologist and Behavioural Consultant from the Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Department, Balogun Osunbiyi.
Osunbiyi, who is also a Drug Prevention and Drug Treatment Specialist, took staff through the 16 steps of wellness and wellbeing.
The workshop was conducted on the topic “Negative Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Professional Staff”, a statement from the MoE informed.

The statement noted that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the schools’ welfare officers and guidance counsellors are delivering care and psychosocial support to help learners, teachers and families to cope with issues and challenges, even as they themselves navigate their own issues and challenges in their lives.
“Officers in their personal lives [are] dealing with some of the same issues [and] challenges as people in the general public. Social workers are not necessarily very good at recognising the signs of burnout in themselves, nor are they always good at prioritising their well-being,” the statement said.
Cognisant of this, MoE Chief School Welfare Officer, Gillian Vyphuis, decided to conduct a workshop to emphasise to the officers and counsellors the importance of self-care.
The exercise was held to help the officers and counsellors develop sustainable coping mechanisms to help them through the pandemic.