BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
A Senior Programme Officer with NEEM Foundation, Minoe Duamwan has appealed to Nigerians to prioritize mental health and general wellbeing at all times.
Mr. Duamwan made the call while delivering his goodwill message in Sokoto at a one day meeting with government and stakeholders on the need to train and recruit more mental health workers in the state.
He appealed that all hands must be on deck to ensure a mental health free society in the country
He said: ” I’m making this passionate appeal to stakeholders in Sokoto to continue to abide by the theme of the 2022 mental health week, which stated that, we should make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority”.
The NEEM Foundation official also advised the state government to make concerted efforts towards engaging secondary trauma counsellors.
Giving overview of the one day meeting, Mr Joseph Julius, NEEM Foundation “Prevent and Protect” Project State Coordinator, said they remained strongly committed to strengthening access and response to Gender Based Violence in Sokoto State.
In her Goodwill message, Sokoto state commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hon Kulu Sifawa represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Barrister Aisha Mohammed Dantsoho assured that Sokoto is ever ready to collaborate with development partners with good programmes for the state.
While stressing that mental health issues must be taken serious, Dantsoho said not only survivors and families of Gender Based Violence (GBV) alone that undergoes psychological trauma but even the service providers too.
She added, “‘The MHPSS will be stepped down to the surveillance coordinators, village savings and loans groups as well as women wage groups and schools across the state.
“Training in schools will help students get the kind of MHPSS they needed. The ministry have staff that are really committed because they are well informed on the subject matter””.
On her part, Barrister Rashidat Mohammed said mental health goes beyond being in the psychiatric hospital, as according to her, depression is also a product of mental health that must be discussed.
Barrister Rashidat, who is the co-chairperson, Sokoto State Gender Based Response Team and State Secretary General, Nigerian Bar Association, further advised that NEEM Foundation should make more efforts towards taking mental health issues advocacy to schools.
In there separate goodwill messages, representatives of NAPTIP, NSCDC, Police and Civil Society Organizations thanked NEEM Foundation for empowering them with knowledge on mental health in the previous workshop, which they stepped down in their respective organisations.
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