Filmmaker and mental health advocate, Kemi Owadara, has urged Nigerians to break the culture of silence and prioritise mental health like physical health.

She made the call at her My Mind Matters event in Lagos to mark World Mental Health Day. The programme brought together young people, mental health experts, creatives and students to discuss mental health challenges and possible solutions.

Owadara explained that the programme was born out of the need to address how Nigerians often ignore or bottle up their emotions.

“We don’t really discuss mental health in this part of the world. People are going through a lot, but then as Nigerians, we develop thick skin about anything. People always bottle up emotions because they don’t want to be judged, or maybe because they feel nobody would even understand what they are going through,” she said.

She noted that her short film on mental health inspired the initiative and expressed hope that it would build a safe community for honest conversations.

“I feel like, let’s come together. Let’s form a community where we can speak up about whatever we are going through. Nigeria itself is stressful,” she added.

Owadara advised young people to take their mental well-being seriously and prioritise self-care.

Actor Akinola Akano (Segbowe), who shared his personal experience at the event, said cultivating a heart of gratitude has helped him cope with pressure and expectations in the entertainment industry.

“One of the things that has helped me to cope with pressure is a heart of gratitude for the little things I have. There are three levels. Some people will have more than you, some will have equality with you, and some people don’t have as much. When pressure comes in, look at the people who don’t have like you do, and be grateful to God,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of patience and process in life. “Life is about time. Life is as short as the sound of a bell. Even God, when He created this world, did it step by step. I believe in timing. I believe in process,” he said.

A lecturer at the University of Calabar and PhD student at the University of Lagos, Sliver Lale, urged Nigerians to build resilience to handle mental health challenges effectively.

“Being the fact that we’re from a country where culturally, we are not encouraged to talk about our mental problems, if you build personal resilience towards mental health-related problems, you’ll be able to solve your problems halfway,” she said.

She added that self-awareness plays a key role in preventing mental health crises. “If somebody has a suicidal thought, you may not even have my phone number, but before you call me, you could take your last breath. But if you have personal resilience to issues, you’ll be able to tell yourself, encourage yourself and then call the therapist,” he said.

Owadara encouraged Nigerians to seek support and stop pretending to be strong all the time. “Mental wellness is not just about absence of illness. It is about finding peace in the midst of chaos. It is okay not to be okay sometimes. Nobody is strong all the time. Sometimes we need a shoulder to lean on,” she said.