Explore mental health awareness articles covering key issues, campaigns and conversations shaping mental wellness across Nigeria and Africa. Stay informed and inspired.
Every 10th of October is World Mental Health Day. To some people, it is a regular day like every other one. But to a mental health advocate, to someone who is struggling, to someone who has watched a person they love struggle, it is not just any day. It is a day to be heard.
World Mental Health Day: How To Make It Count Read More »
The Federal Government’s move to decriminalise attempted suicide is a necessary break with a punitive past. But removing the threat of prosecution is only the beginning. Nigeria must now build the crisis care, treatment, follow-up, financing and data systems that a person in suicidal distress actually needs. On August 19, 2026, Nigeria took a significant step towards treating attempted suicide as a public-health crisis rather than a criminal offence. The Federal Executive Council approved a proposed amendment to decriminalise attempted suicide, a move that is both necessary and long overdue. But the approval is not yet the law. More importantly, it
Nigeria’s New Approach to Attempted Suicide: What Happens Now? Read More »
“I’m fine” doesn’t always mean “I’m okay.” When it comes to understanding teenage mental health, there can be a difference between what a teenager says and what they may actually be experiencing. A teenager may say “I’m fine” while withdrawing, becoming unusually quiet, losing interest in things they normally enjoy, or spending more time alone
Teenage Mental Health: This Is What “I’m Fine” Really Means Read More »
A while back, I was speaking to my mum about how some people would not have to struggle with their mental health if only their environment could change for good. This is because the environment massively affects the interactions that influence an individual’s mood and feelings on a daily basis. Sometimes, we are quick to
Proven Ways Your Environment and Mental Health Are Connected Read More »
A teacher’s words can affect a child’s mental health in ways we cannot begin to imagine. A teacher may think they are simply correcting a child. But correction that uses harsh words, judgmental comments and destructive criticism can hurt children’s emotions long after the punishment is over. I know this because even now as an
The Powerful Impact Teachers Have On A Child’s Mental Health Read More »
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It grew out of Suicide Prevention Week, which has been observed in the United States since the 1970s. Over time, the observance expanded to cover the whole of September, and today it is observed internationally. Still, many people don’t even know something like this exists. And among those who
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Simple Ways You Can Help Read More »
“Grinng! Grinng!” “Grinnng!! Grinng!!” It’s 5 a.m. For many Nigerians, it’s not just a new day. It’s another day of transportation stress. Because transportation is more than just moving from one place to another. It’s about how long it will take to get a bus or keke going your way, how long it will take
The Truth About Transportation Stress Nigerians Never Discuss Read More »
In my time at a rehabilitation shelter for street-connected boys, I learned that trauma rarely looks like trauma. I have seen boys who second-guess the intentions of adults and caregivers. Some believe that kindness comes with a price tag. Some cannot bring themselves to be under authority or be told what to do. Some act
What Happened to the Child: Trauma in Street-Connected Children Read More »
Imagine it is 4 a.m. in Benin City, Nigeria, and a WhatsApp notification jolts a young researcher awake before her alarm does. Before her eyes are even fully open, her heart is already racing at the thought of a task she has not finished. If a scene like that feels familiar, whether it is a
What You Need to Know About Stress and Your Brain Read More »
Finding the right grants to apply for as a mental health NGO can be harder than it looks. Not all grants are accessible to African NGOs and not all are actually worth the time and effort it takes to apply. That is exactly what this post is about. To help you search smarter, find the
How to Find The Best Grants for Mental Health NGOs Read More »