PUI marks World Mental Health Day, calls for lived experiences in mental healthcare
By Ahmed Isah
Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) Nigeria Mission has joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Day, with a call for people with lived experiences of mental health challenges to have their voices heard in shaping mental healthcare services.
Ogenyi Isaac Agbo, PUI Nigeria’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Adviser, said lasting progress in mental health could only be achieved through close partnership with people with lived experience.
Agbo said this in a statement issued to mark the World Mental Health Day, with this year’s theme: “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
“Together, we can change the narrative on mental health, ensuring that every voice is heard, valued and integrated into our programmes, while remembering to prioritise our own mental health and self-care along the way,” he said.
Similarly, Tijjani Bukar, Deputy Health and Nutrition Manager in Monguno, said healing was not a linear process and rarely happened in isolation.
“To my fellow humanitarians: we must care for our own minds to sustain our ability to care for others,” Bukar said.
Guma Hulobu Steven, MHPSS Supervisor in Bama, said listening to people without judgement would help reduce stigma and encourage them to seek appropriate support.
“When we listen without judgement to people’s lived experiences, we reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking and turn real voices into real change,” he said.
In Katsina, MHPSS Supervisor Miriam Musa urged parents and caregivers to prioritise the emotional wellbeing of children.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken adults,” she said.
PUI said the theme for the 2026 commemoration, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, focused on ensuring that people with lived experience of mental health challenges were listened to and involved in decisions affecting their care.
It said activities to commemorate the day were held across its locations in Borno, Katsina and Zamfara States, bringing together stakeholders and community-based mental health champions.
According to the organisation, awareness activities were conducted in Monguno, Bama, Pulka, Kurfi, Katsina and Zamfara to address stigma associated with mental health and encourage people to seek support.
It added that its staff also received training on mental health and self-care, noting that the wellbeing of humanitarian workers was essential to sustaining the support provided to vulnerable communities.
PUI said 38 of its staff and partners also shared personal messages on the meaning of mental health, including MHPSS supervisors, psychosocial workers, midwives, nurses, pharmacists, caseworkers, logisticians, and protection, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) and Human Resources personnel.
The organisation said it worked with partners including BOWDI, RHHF and SWODEN to provide MHPSS, health, nutrition, livelihood and protection services in North-East and North-West Nigeria.
It said its interventions were focused on listening to affected populations, preserving dignity and promoting hope among communities affected by conflict, displacement and economic hardship.
PUI further reminded its staff that support was available through the Human Resources team, MHPSS teams in various locations and Eutelmed, its confidential 24-hour psychological support service.
