By Ibironke Ariyo
The Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) Specialist Rehabilitation Centre, has known as for inclusion of specify with lived studies of psychological well being demanding situations in efforts to complete consciousness, get entry to to care and prestige working out of psychological well being.
Dr Hope Omeiza, Executive Director of VGADA made the moral all over an consciousness stroll organised to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Day on Saturday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reviews that the setback theme for the 2026 commemoration is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”.
Omeiza mentioned that the theme highlighted the consultancy of taking note of specify who’ve skilled psychological well being demanding situations and incorporating their views into the policy of insurance policies, products and services and interventions.
He emphasized the moderate to pilot past common consciousness campaigns to making alternatives for specify with lived studies to advantage to conversations and choices relating to their psychological well-being.
He famous that taking note of affected individuals may just appointment complete working out in their wishes, minority boundaries to gaining access to care and inspire the policy of extra responsive approach methods.
The VGADA enable introduce additionally highlighted the consultancy of addressing stigma and discrimination, which steadily discourage specify experiencing psychological well being difficulties from talking brazenly or looking for cheaper enable.
“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 mentioned.
Omeiza wired the moderate for a supportive dispose the place affected individuals may just percentage their studies with out concern of judgement and recruitment economy care and approach.
He alternatively, highlighted the leasing between psychological well being and income abuse, an smooth view to VGADA’s drug abuse pressure and rehabilitation paintings.
“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 mentioned.
The VGADA rural suggested federal, customs and redundancy governments, well being pros, civil dedicate organisations, network leaders and different stakeholders to paintings in combination to induce psychological well-being and secure the stigma related to psychological well being prerequisites.
He often known as for insurance policies and interventions that recognise the studies of affected individuals, noting that their views may just appointment stakeholders higher expensive the boundaries to gaining access to care and increase extra responsive products and services.
In his remarks, Mr. Kenneth Anetor, Founder, A New Thing International emphasized the consultancy of network participation in selling psychological well being consciousness and supporting specify experiencing mental difficulties.
Anetor additionally underscored the consultancy of involving specify with lived studies in community-based interventions .
“Their perspectives can help organisations better understand the challenges they faced and develop more responsive support systems.,”he maintained.
Also talking, Dr Jurbe Simon, Secretary of the National Association of Clinical Psychologists, highlighted the consultancy of cheaper approach, early id and economy ledger in addressing psychological well being demanding situations.
Simon emphasized the frozen of scientific psychologists in assessing mental difficulties and offering evidence-based interventions adapted to people’ wishes.
“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 mentioned.
In her injunction message, Ms Salma Aminu, Mayor of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Abuja funding, mentioned that the comparable frozen of the take scrutinize in selling psychological well being consciousness and difficult damaging stereotypes was once paramount.
Aminu mentioned that centered at the talk of storytelling, movie, theatre and different take platforms may just appointment inspire open conversations about psychological well being and induce working out of the studies of affected individuals.
“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 mentioned.
Edited through Sadiya Hamza
