The President of the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria, Dr Veronica Nyamali, has commended Vanguard Newspapers for its sustained advocacy and public enlightenment on mental health issues in Nigeria.
Nyamali, a consultant psychiatrist, gave the commendation ahead of the fourth Vanguard Mental Health Summit, scheduled to hold on Friday. She said the newspaper had consistently created opportunities for mental health professionals, policymakers, advocates and members of the public to discuss issues affecting psychological wellbeing.
According to her, mental health is fundamental to helping people find meaning, purpose and direction in life, making public education and awareness an important part of efforts to improve mental wellbeing.
She noted that Vanguard’s engagement with professionals in the field had helped Nigerians gain a better understanding of mental health conditions, available interventions and developments within the sector.
Nyamali said the newspaper’s role had gone beyond conventional reporting, noting that it had developed strong relationships with mental health professionals while promoting responsible coverage of sensitive mental health matters.
She described the annual mental health summit as the high point of Vanguard’s advocacy efforts, saying the event had become an important platform for stakeholders to examine emerging challenges and discuss practical solutions.
The psychiatrist also praised Vanguard for what she described as broad and balanced coverage of mental health matters, adding that the newspaper had remained deliberate about bringing pressing issues to public attention.
Nyamali further said the media had an important role to play in improving public understanding of mental health and challenging misconceptions and stigma surrounding mental health conditions.
She therefore called for continued collaboration between the media, health professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders to strengthen mental health awareness and support across Nigeria.
The Vanguard Mental Health Summit brings together psychiatrists, psychologists, healthcare professionals, policymakers, advocates and members of the public to discuss critical issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing in the country.
