The Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) Specialist Rehabilitation Centre has called for greater involvement of people with lived experience of mental health challenges in the design of policies, awareness campaigns and support services.
VGADA Executive Director Dr Hope Omeiza made the call during an awareness walk in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Day, urging stakeholders to ensure affected persons’ voices are heard and reflected in decisions about their care.
The global theme for this year’s commemoration is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.” It highlights the importance of drawing on the experiences of people who have faced mental health challenges to improve public understanding and make mental health services more responsive.
Omeiza said mental health advocacy should go beyond general awareness campaigns to create meaningful opportunities for affected persons to participate in conversations and decisions about their well-being.
According to him, their experiences can help identify obstacles to accessing treatment, improve understanding of their needs and guide the development of more effective support systems.
He also stressed the need to address stigma, misinformation and discrimination, which can prevent people from discussing their difficulties 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,” he said.
Omeiza added that people experiencing psychological difficulties needed supportive environments where they could share their experiences without fear of judgment and obtain appropriate care.
The VGADA director also highlighted the connection between mental health challenges and substance use disorders, noting that the two can occur together and may require coordinated treatment and support.
He said harmful substance use could worsen some psychological symptoms and create additional health and social difficulties, making early identification and professional intervention important.
According to him, effective responses should include prevention, assessment, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation and sustained support for people working towards recovery.
He further noted that people recovering from substance use disorders or mental health conditions might require continued assistance to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.
Omeiza said involving people with lived experience in public education could help challenge harmful stereotypes and give communities a clearer understanding of the difficulties associated with seeking care.
He 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 discrimination against affected persons.
He also called for policies and interventions that take account of the experiences of people receiving care, saying their contributions could help make services more accessible and responsive.
Also speaking at the event, A New Thing International founder Mr Kenneth Anetor emphasised the importance of community participation in mental health awareness and support initiatives.
Anetor said people who had experienced mental health challenges could provide valuable insights into the barriers they faced and help organisations develop more practical, community-based interventions.
Similarly, the Secretary of the National Association of Clinical Psychologists, Dr Jurbe Simon, highlighted the importance of early identification, professional assessment and evidence-based psychological interventions.
Simon said clinical psychologists played an important role in assessing psychological difficulties and providing support tailored to individual needs.
He added that listening to people receiving care could help professionals better understand treatment-related concerns and challenges that prevent some individuals from accessing mental health services.
In her goodwill message, the Mayor of the Abuja Chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ms Salma Aminu, highlighted the creative industry’s potential to improve public understanding of mental health.
Aminu said film, theatre, storytelling and other creative platforms could encourage open conversations and challenge stereotypes surrounding mental health conditions.
She urged content creators to portray people experiencing psychological difficulties with dignity and sensitivity rather than exposing them to ridicule or discrimination.
The awareness walk brought together stakeholders from rehabilitation, clinical psychology and the creative industry to promote mental health awareness and encourage collective action.
The discussions underscored the importance of combining professional care, community support, and the participation of people with lived experience to improve mental health services and reduce stigma in Nigeria.
For mental health advocacy to translate into meaningful change, stakeholders must ensure that affected persons are not merely subjects of public awareness campaigns but active participants in shaping the services and policies intended to support them.
World Mental Health Day 2026
,Vanguard Against Drug Abuse
, Mental Health Awareness in Nigeria
, Substance Abuse Prevention
, Mental Health Care and Rehabilitation
