On September 22, 2023, Nigerian-born, UK-based Mental Healthcare Assistant and Visual Artist, Olubunmi Elizabeth Albert-Abu, joined Mienye Badejo, Zonal Director of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Nigeria (Southwest Zone), for a candid and emotional Instagram Live conversation on “Mental Health in the Workplace.”

Speaking to a diverse audience of professionals, creatives, and young Nigerians, the conversation pulled back the curtain on an issue many still find difficult to discuss openly: the silent emotional battles happening behind polished résumés, corporate titles, and “I’m fine” smiles.

For Elizabeth, this topic hit close to home. At the time, she was at a turning point in her creative journey and known amongst peers as Elinth Arts, for her deeply emotive pencil sketches. After years of balancing her early fashion design career, domestic violence, marriage breakdown, relocation challenges, motherhood, and personal struggles, she found herself battling emotional exhaustion while trying to remain productive in both academic and work environments.

“There was this constant pressure to perform and to appear strong,” she shared during the session. “I was living in a cycle where I was caring for others, showing up to work, and studying — but inside, I was falling apart.”

This personal struggle gradually spilt into her artistic expression. She began creating abstract drawings and digital art — powerful sketches that reflected themes of initial career success to overwhelm, burnout, and silent resilience. Among these were two pieces in what she said will become an autobiography collection to tell her mental health story:

“Threads Unravelling” — representing the quiet, almost invisible beginnings of emotional strain.

“Shadows in the Fabric” — capturing the growing weight of mental fatigue and disconnection from things once loved.

During the live session, Mienye Badejo highlighted the rising prevalence of workplace-related stress, anxiety, and burnout, emphasising the Ministry’s role in driving awareness and policy interventions.

“We cannot separate productivity from well-being,” Mienye said. “Many professionals are silently suffering in environments where mental health isn’t openly discussed. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is working to change that narrative by promoting better organisational policies and creating safer spaces for employees.”

The conversation soon turned into a Q&A, with audience members asking practical questions — and Mienye directed a few of her own to Elizabeth, exploring the role of mental wellbeing in workplace success:

Mienye: “Elizabeth, you’ve shared openly that workplace and life pressures does affect one’s emotional balance. How has your work and art helped you process these struggles?”

Elizabeth: “Working in the mental health sector in UK has increased my awareness and naturally caused me to prioritize my wellbeing. Drawing became my voice when I couldn’t find the words. Through my sketches, I allowed myself to feel — the chaos, the exhaustion, the longing for relief. Art gave me a language for what I couldn’t express otherwise.”

Mienye: “A lot of young professionals watching this are silently battling stress but fear speaking up. What would you say to them?”

Elizabeth: “I would say — you’re not weak for feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t make you less capable or less ambitious. For me, starting small conversations, like this one today, gave me the courage to admit what I was going through. Speaking up is a form of strength and healing.”

There a broader concerns about the stigma around mental health in Nigeria. Many participants admitted feeling unsafe discussing their struggles with employers or colleagues. Mienye addressed this directly:

“Breaking the silence starts with conversations like this,” she explained. “It’s about shifting the culture in workplaces so that people can ask for help without fear of judgment. Mental health awareness isn’t just a personal issue — it’s a structural one, and we’re advocating for policies that reflect that reality.”

By the end of the hour-long session, the Instagram Live had evolved into more than just a dialogue; it became a safe space for shared vulnerability and a rallying call for change. For Elizabeth, it marked the beginning of her decision to merge work experience and art with advocacy, using her drawings as a medium for reflection and dialogue.
“That day opened something inside me,” she reflected after the session. “I realised that if I could turn my pain into something visual and with a voice— something people could connect with — then maybe others wouldn’t feel so alone in theirs.”

The conversation ended, but its impact didn’t. Participants left with practical tools, shared understanding, and renewed courage to prioritise mental wellbeing. For Elizabeth, this marked the start of a deeper exploration of how art could become more than personal healing — it could also be a platform for collective awareness and change.