Lagos First Lady Leads Mental Health Awareness Drive, Urges Residents To Speak Up And Seek Help
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has called on residents to break the silence surrounding mental health challenges, stressing that early intervention, community support and access to professional care are essential to improving mental well-being.
She made the appeal on Wednesday during the World Mental Health Day celebration organised by the Orunsii Welcare Foundation in collaboration with the Office of the Lagos State First Lady at Badagry West Local Council Development Area. The programme was themed “Lived Experience Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu said the annual campaign was designed to encourage people experiencing mental health challenges to openly share their experiences and seek appropriate support without fear of stigma.
She noted that the foundation had previously taken the awareness campaign to Ikorodu and other parts of Lagos State and was now engaging residents of Badagry, including women, artisans, traditional leaders, youth groups, community associations and children.
According to her, mental health conditions often manifest through subtle behavioural changes that families, employers and communities should not ignore.
“A child who suddenly becomes withdrawn, an employee who can no longer function effectively, or an elderly person living in isolation may all be showing signs of emotional distress that require attention,” she said.
The First Lady also encouraged residents to enrol in the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme to ease the financial burden of accessing healthcare, including mental health services.
Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Orunsii Welcare Foundation, Dr. Laja Odunuga, said the non-governmental organisation was established about five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic to respond to growing mental health concerns and other social challenges.
He explained that the foundation’s activities focus on four key areas: mental health awareness, care for elderly persons, support for indigent paediatric patients, and environmental sustainability.
Odunuga disclosed that a mental health survey conducted by the organisation in Alimosho revealed that mental health conditions were widespread but grossly underreported.
“What we see in hospitals is only the tip of the iceberg. Many people are battling depression, anxiety and sleep disorders without seeking help because they either do not recognise the symptoms or fear social stigma,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to speak openly about mental health challenges and respect the confidentiality of those who seek emotional support.
The foundation, he added, adopts a community-based approach by training representatives of market associations, religious organisations, socio-cultural groups and artisans to return to their communities and educate others.
Delivering a presentation, Dr. Medinat Oladosu, Senior Registrar in Psychiatry at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Yaba and Clinical Lead Mindbulb Foundation, described mental health as an integral part of overall health, insisting that “there is no health without mental health.”
She urged individuals, families and communities to pay closer attention to people experiencing emotional difficulties, listen with empathy and refer them for professional care where necessary.
Oladosu stressed that mental illnesses are treatable and should not define anyone’s future, adding that people living with mental health conditions can lead productive lives when they receive appropriate treatment and support.
Also speaking, Medical Director of General Hospital, Badagry, Dr. Oluseyi Adesola, identified substance abuse as one of the most prevalent mental health challenges confronting Nigerian communities.
He said the problem cuts across all segments of society and is often detected only after it has become severe because many affected persons are unwilling to admit they have a problem.
Adesola emphasised that preventing substance abuse requires a coordinated effort involving families, religious institutions, community leaders, healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.
Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Humpe, commended the Lagos State First Lady and the Orunsii Welcare Foundation for bringing the awareness campaign to Badagry.
He described the programme as timely and impactful, saying the messages delivered should be sustained through continuous engagement in schools, religious centres, homes and communities to promote healthier attitudes towards mental health and emotional well-being.
Participants at the event were encouraged to become advocates for mental health awareness within their respective communities, helping to reduce stigma and ensure that more people seek help early.
