The Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) has called on Nigerians to join in the world’s first virtual march for mental health slated for October 9, 2020 at 1:00pm West African Time.
A statement signed by Victor Ugo, its founder, urged Nigerians to move for mental health as world’s first 24-hour virtual march for mental health takes place.
‘‘The extraordinary increase in mental health needs – with the added challenges of Covid-19 – is taking its toll on already overburdened mental health services which are underfunded and under-resourced. This is why we are inviting members of the public to join us in the world’s first virtual march for mental health, which will be live streamed. It would be one hour of content featuring Nigerian singer and songwriter, Hadiza Blell (Di’ja); Timiebi Dawn Ebitibituwa, lived experience advocate and a volunteer with MANI, and Victor Ugo, founder as part of the ‘Speak Your Mind24hr activation’,” Ugo said in the statement.
According to him, people will stand up and be counted by using an AR filter that places them in the middle of the virtual march as it leaves Nigeria and progresses around the world.
He further stated that the level of mental health burden the world is confronted with is not being matched by the response it demands, adding that close to 1billion people globally have mental disorder.
“People with severe mental disorders tend to die 10 -20 years earlier than the general population. Suicide is claiming the lives of close to 800,000 people every year – one person every 40 seconds – and it’s the second leading cause of death for young people aged 15-29 years,” Ugo stated.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), about one in every four persons will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime and this does not exempt Nigerians.
“By this statistics, we can assume that in a population of 200 million, almost a quarter of the population is struggling with one or more mental health problems. Yet, Nigeria is said to have less than 250 psychiatrists, which comes down to almost one psychiatrist to 800,000 people. In this same country, suicide attempts are still criminal offences and there are no nationally coordinated suicide emergency lines or even alternative solutions,” says Ugo, who supports the march in Nigeria.
Continuing, he stated that: “People can take part in the virtual march by signing up for the 24-hour virtual march, 24-hour Facebook live event which will kick off on October 9 featuring content, lived experience and influencer involvement from 18 countries starting in Tonga and running through New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Argentina, Ghana, Peru and the United States.”
Also speaking, Timiebi Ebitibituwa, a lived experience advocate volunteering with MANI said: “Support to me is accessibility, access to mental health services, having family and friends that are accessible, whom one can talk to, and can share how one is feeling or going through but most importantly, having access to mental health services.
