“It’s Okay Not To Be Okay”: 300 Students Touched by Mental Health Awareness Program in Lagos Schools
Lagos, Nigeria — October 27, 2025
In a heartfelt and transformative event held on Monday, 27th October, 2025, over 300 secondary school students at Lagos City College and Wesley College, Yaba, received life-changing lessons on trauma, emotional wellbeing, and resilience through the Behavioral, Emotional & Safety Support (B.E.S.S.) Program, an initiative by The Mental Health Conference (TMHC) and Pinnacle Medical Services, powered by the visionary leadership of Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri — Nigeria’s leading Neuro-Psychiatrist and Mental Health Advocate.
Themed “TRAUMA: It’s Okay Not To Be Okay,” the program reminded young Nigerians that emotional pain is not weakness, silence is not strength, and healing begins when we start talking about what hurts.
For many of these students, it was their first time hearing adults speak openly about mental health in a language they could understand. Through storytelling, laughter, and interactive conversations, the B.E.S.S. team helped students recognize that trauma doesn’t always look like tears, sometimes it looks like anger, withdrawal, or silence.
“Our children are growing up in a world where they face academic pressure, bullying, family stress, and even social media anxiety,” said Dr. Maymunah Kadiri, Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist and Convener of The Mental Health Conference.
“This program is designed to give them tools to identify their emotions early, ask for help, and build the mental strength to thrive, not just survive.”
The program was proudly supported by leading brands including Eat N Go, owners of Cold Stone Creamery, Domino’s Pizza, and Pinkberry Nigeria, Saudat Salam Foundation, and HerLeap Network, who all share the belief that mental health is a community responsibility.
Their presence wasn’t just symbolic, they helped create a warm, supportive environment where learning met love, and mental health met mentorship. Each partner contributed to ensuring that the students not only listened but felt seen, valued, and celebrated.
“Corporate Nigeria must see mental health not as CSR, but as an investment in the nation’s future,” Dr. May emphasized. “When we build emotionally resilient students, we build a stable workforce, safer communities, and a healthier nation.”
From trauma education to emotional literacy exercises, every activity was designed to make mental health real, relatable, and relevant. Students learned how to recognize feelings of sadness or fear, how to respond to friends in distress, and most importantly, how to ask for help without shame.
Teachers and school counselors were also empowered with new strategies to identify early warning signs and create psychologically safe classrooms.
A 15-year-old student shared after the session: “I used to think trauma was only for people who lost someone. Now I know it can be from pressure or stress too. I learned it’s okay to talk about how I feel.”
The B.E.S.S. Program is part of a nationwide initiative by The Mental Health Conference and Pinnacle Medical Services to integrate mental health education into Nigerian schools, one community at a time.
The goal is to reach millions of students starting with 10,000 students in 2026 by building a generation that is emotionally aware, mentally strong, and socially responsible.
As conversations around mental health continue to gain global attention, this initiative stands as a beacon of hope for Africa — a reminder that the change we need starts in the classroom.
The success of the Yaba pilot highlights an urgent need to scale this intervention nationwide. Corporate organizations, government agencies, NGOs, and development partners are invited to join this life-changing movement through sponsorships, grants, and collaborative programs that prioritize youth mental health.
“We’ve seen what one session can do, now imagine what one sustained program can achieve,” Dr. May said. “The future of Nigeria depends on the mental health of its young people.”
The Behavioral, Emotional & Safety Support (B.E.S.S.) Program is a school-based mental health initiative created to provide early emotional intervention for Nigerian students.
The program combines storytelling, peer engagement, and psychological first aid to reduce stigma and build resilience.
