By Juliet Umeh
In a powerful show of advocacy and empathy, more than 300 secondary school students from Lagos City College and Wesley College, Yaba, participated in an impactful mental health awareness programme on Monday, October 27, 2025, organized under the Behavioral, Emotional & Safety Support (B.E.S.S.) Programme.
The initiative, a collaboration between The Mental Health Conference, TMHC, and Pinnacle Medical Services, led by Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, Nigeria’s renowned Neuro-Psychiatrist and Mental Health Advocate — focused on helping adolescents understand trauma, emotional wellbeing, and resilience.
The event’s theme, “TRAUMA: It’s Okay Not To Be Okay,” challenged the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraged young Nigerians to express emotional pain without shame. Through storytelling, open conversations, and interactive learning, the B.E.S.S. team demonstrated that trauma can take many forms — from silence and anger to withdrawal — and that healing starts by acknowledging those feelings.
“Our children are growing up in a world where they face academic pressure, bullying, family stress, and social media anxiety,” said Dr. Kadiri, Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist and Convener of TMHC. “This program equips them with the tools to identify their emotions early, ask for help, and develop the resilience to thrive — not just survive.”
The session received strong support from Eat ‘N’ Go (owners of Cold Stone Creamery, Domino’s Pizza, and Pinkberry Nigeria), Saudat Salam Foundation, and HerLeap Network, all of whom contributed resources to create a safe and nurturing environment.
Dr. Kadiri emphasized that corporate participation in mental health initiatives should be viewed as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s future rather than a short-term CSR gesture.
“When we build emotionally resilient students, we build a stable workforce, safer communities, and a healthier nation,” she said.
The programme combined trauma education, emotional literacy exercises, and psychological first aid techniques. Students learned how to recognize signs of distress in themselves and others, respond empathetically, and seek professional help when needed. Teachers and counselors also received training on identifying early warning signs and creating psychologically safe learning spaces.
One of the students, aged 15, reflected on the session: “I used to think trauma was only for people who lost someone. Now I know it can come from stress or pressure too. I learned it’s okay to talk about how I feel.”
The B.E.S.S. Program forms part of a nationwide strategy by TMHC and Pinnacle Medical Services to integrate structured mental health education into Nigerian schools. The initiative aims to reach 10,000 students in 2026, with a long-term vision of fostering an emotionally aware, mentally strong, and socially responsible generation.
Dr. Kadiri called for broader collaboration with government, NGOs, and development partners to expand the initiative nationwide.
“We’ve seen what one session can do,” she said. “Now imagine what one sustained program can achieve. The future of Nigeria depends on the mental health of its young people.”
The B.E.S.S. Programme is a school-based early intervention model that combines storytelling, peer support, and practical coping tools to reduce stigma, build emotional literacy, and promote mental wellbeing among Nigerian adolescents.
