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The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has called for renewed efforts to support lives and trim stigma astir intelligence unwellness arsenic Nigeria joined the planetary assemblage to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day connected Wednesday.
In a connection shared connected its authoritative X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Ministry wrote, “Hey, Nigeria… astonishment surprise: we really attraction astir your intelligence wellness much than you think. Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay2025, and portion we can’t springiness you escaped jollof therapy oregon a hug done this screen, we tin punctual you of this: your beingness matters, and anticipation is real.
“So cheque successful connected a friend. Listen without side-eyes.
Seek assistance erstwhile you request it (yes, adjacent you, beardown 1 ). Because together, we tin marque definite nary 1 feels unsocial successful the dark.”
The yearly observance, archetypal initiated successful 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention successful collaboration with the World Health Organisation, is aimed astatine raising awareness, reducing the stigma astir suicide, and fostering stronger planetary and community-based responses.
The time was created to gully attraction to termination arsenic a preventable nationalist wellness contented and to mobilise governments, organisations, and communities worldwide successful reducing stigma and promoting empathy.
IASP, founded successful 1960 by psychiatrist Erwin Ringel and scientist Norman Farberow, continues to pb the inaugural globally.
With WHO and partners similar the World Federation for Mental Health, the relation emphasises that termination tin beryllium prevented done assemblage support, nonrecreational care, and policies that prioritise intelligence well-being.
This year’s theme, “Creating Hope Through Action,” highlights the powerfulness of small, meaningful acts to animate anticipation and prevention lives.
Along with the tweet, a pictorial connection was shared.
The Ministry noted that Nigeria was scaling up its effect done the National Mental Health Policy, which integrates intelligence wellness into superior healthcare, and the Mental Health Act, signed successful 2023, which has strengthened rights, services, and protections for radical surviving with intelligence wellness conditions. It added that nationwide consciousness campaigns and situation enactment services are being expanded.
“Efforts are underway to grow intelligence wellness consciousness campaigns and situation enactment services nationwide,” the Ministry said, reaffirming authorities committedness to tackling the issue.
The Ministry further highlighted the relation of communities, families, religion leaders, and workplaces successful prevention, stressing that termination prevention indispensable beryllium seen arsenic a shared responsibility. It besides reminded Nigerians that stigma remains a large challenge, pointing retired that “in Nigeria, thousands of lives are mislaid annually, yet galore cases spell unreported owed to stigma.”
They urged Nigerians to cheque successful connected friends and loved ones, perceive without judgment, and question assistance erstwhile needed. It reiterated that nonrecreational counselling and situation resources are available, with wellness workers trained to supply care.
By joining the planetary commemoration, Nigeria reinforced the connection that nary 1 should consciousness alone.
As the Ministry reminded, “Feelings change. Pain is temporary. Hope is real.”
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