By Ibironke Ariyo
The Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) Specialist Rehabilitation Centre, has called for inclusion of people with lived experiences of mental health challenges in efforts to improve awareness, access to care and public understanding of mental health.
Dr Hope Omeiza, Executive Director of VGADA made the call during an awareness walk organised to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Day on Saturday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the global theme for the 2026 commemoration is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”.
Omeiza said that the theme highlighted the importance of listening to people who have experienced mental health challenges and incorporating their perspectives into the development of policies, services and interventions.
He emphasised the need to move beyond general awareness campaigns to creating opportunities for people with lived experiences to contribute to conversations and decisions concerning their mental well-being.
He noted that listening to affected persons could help improve understanding of their needs, identify barriers to accessing care and encourage the development of more responsive support systems.
The VGADA executive director also highlighted the importance of addressing stigma and discrimination, which often discourage people experiencing mental health difficulties from speaking openly or seeking professional assistance.
“Mental health is an essential component of overall well-being, influencing how individuals cope with stress, relate with others and manage everyday responsibilities.
“Stigma, misinformation and fear of discrimination can discourage people experiencing mental health difficulties from seeking professional help,”he said.
Omeiza stressed the need for a supportive environment where affected persons could share their experiences without fear of judgement and receive appropriate care and support.
He however, highlighted the relationship between mental health and substance abuse, an area relevant to VGADA’s drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation work.
“Substance use disorders can occur alongside mental health conditions, while harmful drug use may worsen certain psychological symptoms and create additional health and social difficulties.
“Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive interventions, including prevention, early identification, professional assessment, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.
“People recovering from substance use disorders or mental health conditions may also require sustained support to facilitate their recovery and reintegration into society.
“The involvement of people with lived experiences in awareness campaigns can help challenge stereotypes, promote understanding and provide insights into the practical difficulties associated with accessing care,”he said.
The VGADA chief urged federal, state and local governments, health professionals, civil society organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders to work together to promote mental well-being and reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions.
He also called for policies and interventions that recognise the experiences of affected persons, noting that their perspectives could help stakeholders better understand the barriers to accessing care and develop more responsive services.
In his remarks, Mr. Kenneth Anetor, Founder, A New Thing International emphasised the importance of community participation in promoting mental health awareness and supporting people experiencing psychological difficulties.
Anetor also underscored the importance of involving people with lived experiences in community-based interventions .
“Their perspectives can help organisations better understand the challenges they faced and develop more responsive support systems.,”he maintained.
Also speaking, Dr Jurbe Simon, Secretary of the National Association of Clinical Psychologists, highlighted the importance of professional support, early identification and appropriate intervention in addressing mental health challenges.
Simon emphasised the role of clinical psychologists in assessing psychological difficulties and providing evidence-based interventions tailored to individuals’ needs.
“It is important to listen to people receiving care, because their experiences can also help professionals understand treatment-related concerns and barriers to accessing mental health services,”he said.
In her goodwill message, Ms Salma Aminu, Mayor of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Abuja chapter, said that the potential role of the creative industry in promoting mental health awareness and challenging harmful stereotypes was paramount.
Aminu said that focused on the use of storytelling, film, theatre and other creative platforms could help encourage open conversations about mental health and promote understanding of the experiences of affected persons.
“It is important for us to represent mental health experiences responsibly. This is to ensure that people facing psychological difficulties are portrayed with dignity rather than subjected to ridicule or discrimination,”she said.
NAN reports that the awareness walk brought together stakeholders from the rehabilitation, clinical psychology and creative sectors to promote mental health awareness and encourage collective action to address related challenges.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
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