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The sun had barely climbed above the horizon when guests began arriving at Alliance Française, Ikoyi. There was a quiet hum of anticipation in the air, the kind that often precedes transformation. On this day, silence gave way to courage, and vulnerability found its voice at the third edition of The Mental Health Conference (TMHC), convened by Nigeria’s leading mental health advocate and psychiatrist, Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, fondly known as The Celebrity Shrink.
Themed “Trauma: What’s Your Story?” with a subtheme focused on “Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace,” TMHC 3.0 brought together professionals across medicine, law, business, media, the arts, and the public sector. But beyond its impressive lineup, the conference carried a profound mission, to help people confront their pain, name their trauma, and begin the process of turning wounds into wisdom.
Dr. Kadiri took the stage without slides or formal statistics, her calm authority filling the room with a sense of safety. “We are here to turn our pain into power, our silence into story, and our stories into light,” she declared. Her words pierced the air like a balm, inviting each listener to consider healing not as an abstract concept but as a personal revolution. “Trauma,” she continued, “is not just what happened to you, it’s what keeps happening inside you long after the world thinks you should be fine.”
Tracing the journey of TMHC from its earlier editions, “Unveiling the Mind Behind the Mask” and “Identity: Who Are You?”, Dr. Kadiri explained that this year’s focus was a deeper descent into the unspoken corners of the human mind. “Your story may be stained,” she said softly, “but it is not spoiled. Your pain is part of your past, not your permanent address.”
Representing the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, was Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, Medical Director and Consultant Neuropsychiatrist, who delivered a keynote titled “National Roadmap for Trauma Care and Mental Health Inclusion.” He announced the government’s plans to establish National Trauma Centres and psychosocial intervention units across the country.
These efforts, he said, would ensure that mental health inclusion and trauma care become integral to Nigeria’s public health framework. “We are putting systems in place to make trauma care a national priority,” he affirmed.
From the legal sphere, former Nigerian Bar Association President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, gave a compelling address that examined trauma through the lens of justice and governance. He observed that insecurity, corruption, unemployment, and social inequality have compounded psychological distress across the nation. “When justice punishes instead of heals, it perpetuates cycles of trauma,” he said, urging for a more compassionate, restorative approach. Applauding the government’s plan to decriminalise suicide by December 2025, he added, “True justice must be restorative, not merely punitive. A nation is only as healthy as the collective wellbeing of its citizens.”
The emotional gravity of the day was further deepened by personal testimonies. 16Stories curator, Mr. Wale Ajiboye, connected identity and pain, reminding participants that the marks of trauma can also be the map to greatness. “Sometimes,” he said, “our traumas are actually calling us to our purpose, if we can truly see and understand them.”
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Journalist and media leader, Ms. Stephanie Busari, brought the audience to quiet reflection as she shared her story of navigating grief while keeping up with the demands of journalism. “The news doesn’t stop, Lagos doesn’t stop, life doesn’t pause for your pain,” she said. “Grief doesn’t wait for permission, neither does trauma check your schedule.” She spoke candidly about trying to stay strong and busy until she learned that healing begins with honesty. “We can all choose what to do with our pain,” she said. “We can let it destroy us, or make us more human.”
Dr. Olasimbo Davidson’s reflective session on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) invited participants to examine the root of unhealed patterns. “You can’t heal what you’re not even aware of,” she said, leading a powerful exercise that underscored awareness as the first step toward repair.
Panel discussions grounded the conference in practical realities. The first, moderated by Mrs. Adeola Kingsley James, featured Dr. Babi Awosika, Dr. Sylvanus Jatto, and Prof. Rosemary Ogu, who examined “Mental Health at the Heart of Work and Society.” They advocated for trauma-informed workplace policies, Employee Assistance Programs, and systemic reforms that protect employee wellbeing.
A second panel, “The Wellness Equation: Mind, Body, Medicine & Finance,” moderated by Mrs. Saudat Salami, featured Mrs. Temi Dalley, Mr. Foluso Ogunwale, Mrs. Oghenetega Gbadagri, and Mrs. Josephine Ehimen. Together, they explored the intersection between physical health, financial stability, and psychological resilience, stressing that financial stress is a major driver of poor mental health.
The day concluded with a stirring performance by veteran singer Yinka Davies, whose soulful melodies transformed the room into a sanctuary of release and reflection. Her music captured the spirit of TMHC, that art, like healing, has the power to make pain beautiful.
At TMHC 3.0, healing was no longer a silent struggle. It became a revolution, one voice, one truth, one story at a time.
