By Merit Ibe
AREWA24, the leading Hausa language family entertainment and lifestyle television channel and production studio in Nigeria and West Africa, has announced the launch of its inaugural Focus on Mental Health and Wellness Month.
Throughout the month of July, AREWA24 will devote major segments of its daily breakfast show, “Gari Ya Waye,” and its women’s show, “Mata A Yau” to a series of in-depth discussions and interviews with some of the top doctors, therapists and other health experts on issues of mental health and wellness in Northern Nigeria.
The Executive Producer of AREWA24’s Studio Productions, Aisha Lawal who made the disclosure noted that the AREWA24 is committed to using its broadly distributed, popular and trusted entertainment platform to serve the Northern Nigerian communities with positive campaigns such as “our upcoming “Focus on Mental Health and Wellness Month.
“We believe it’s our corporate and social responsibility to go beyond just entertaining our viewers. That’s why we want to raise awareness around critically important issues in our communities such as mental health. We want to help educate and inform our sons and daughters, help prepare them for a better future, and try to address some of the root causes of poverty to which poor mental health is a major contributor.”
Although experts agree that mental health is an integral part of good health and well-being, it has been neglected in Nigeria and Northern Nigeria.
According to the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), more than 60 million Nigerians are suffering from some form of mental illness, but only 10 percent are able to access appropriate care.
APN President Taiwo Obindo explains that the gap in treatment is a result of various factors, including a lack of knowledge which leaves people with insufficient information about the causes of mental illness and the ability to identify and seek appropriate treatment.
Despite the prevalence of mental illness in the country, according to the Nigerian Medical Association, there are only 350 psychiatrists currently available to serve a Nigerian population of some 220 million people. It is estimated that at least one out of every four Nigerians are living with some sort or mental illness.
“People do not have an understanding about mental health,” says Nigerian mental health expert, Aisha Bubah.
“So, mental health gets attributed to so many cultural beliefs, superstitious beliefs and evil. And the image of mental health that people have is always about the most extreme cases.”
AREWA24 is working to fill this glaring knowledge gap by first providing basic information and awareness about mental health, mental illness and mental wellness. The goal of the AREWA24 Mental Health and Wellness campaign is to close the information gap by providing credible information and to eliminate the stigmatism surrounding issues of mental health.
AREWA24 has brought together a group of psychiatrists, therapists and subject matter experts who will also discuss how we can all develop ways to nurture positive mental wellness, both individually and with our families.
This includes services ranging from assessment, diagnosis, treatment and counseling – all dedicated to maintaining and restoring the mental well-being of Northern Nigerians.