MHEI HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE ON MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUTHS 

Maryam Aminu

Youths with better mental health are physically healthier, demonstrate more socially positive behavior and engaged in less risky behavior”.

The Executive Director of Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative, Mr Ameh Zion Abba made this statement at a press conference at Anuja in Nigeria, held on Tuesday 2nd of November.

Globally depression is one of the leading causes of illnesses and disability among Adolescent while suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-19, years, Zion added

For the love of humanity, Zion has initiated a project aimed at ensuring a mentally healthy young and adolescent population for in-school students in 10 selected secondary schools in the Abuja (7public schools and 3private schools).

He noted that in order to reach out to these students, a mental health handbook has been developed.

The World Health Organisation has evaluated mental health to be 16% of global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10-19, half of all mental health conditions start at the age of 14years which are mostly undetected and untreated.

He also noted that the indirect beneficiaries are the parents of the 200 participating students, the entire students of the the 10 different schools of the participants and other Adolescent within the FCT.

While addressing the journalists, he stated that the 12 months project is funded by the EU and the British Council with support and collaboration with Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (ACT program).

Speaking further, Zion noted that the project for now is only open to FCT, but as time goes on they will expand their reach so that adolescent across other states can benefit as well.

The FCT Focal person, the Focal person EU Act program Mrs Seyi Tetteh assured the MHEI of their support to ensure a mentally healthy society for all and stressed the need to create more awareness of the mental health issue.

“There is no health without mental health. And until we begin to realise that, the earlier we begin to prioritize mental health there will be no developed, growth or quality of living that will be in view, Tetteh added.

Reacting to that, Jake Epelle, the founder The Albino Foundation saying the project is a step in the right direction, he emphasised that specific attention be paid to children with disabilities because they are most vulnerable group who face discrimination in the society.

He further stated that with little influence they have in the education sector, they will ensure that the management of MHEI get to any school they want to get into in the FCT.

Epelle assured MHEI that the albino foundation and the albinism association of Nigeria is ever ready to support them immensely.

In his closing remark, a member of the board of trustees, Chief Haruna Warkani appraised the effort of the Executive Director and all their partners. He noted that mental issue is a major challenge in the health sector.

He added that neglecting mental health has caused stigma to alot of persons citing the e extent of stigmatization cases

” we see for instance the hospitals in most cases are located in remote areas, thus shows how stigmatized the disease is.

” the brain is the centre of all operation, more attention should have been given to mental health disease than any other form of diseases, Warkani added.

He therefore encourage all stakeholders to join hands with MHEI to curtail the menace of mental health.