9mobile Set to Promote Mental Health Awareness through Virtual Health Talk

As part of eorts tocushion the mental health impact of COVID-19 and curb the increasingrate of depression, Nigeria’s caring telecommunication company,9mobile, is holding the maiden edition of a health talk series themed“Covid-19 and the new normal: Staying mentally healthy in the face ofthe challenges”.

The session which will be streamed live on theInstagram page of Instablog9ja on Thursday 25th March 2021 at 7pmwill feature Hauwa Ojeifo, rights advocate and Executive Director atShe Writes Woman. Hauwa Ojeifo popularly tagged as the voice and face of mental healthin Nigeria will discuss the concept and scope of mental health, signs,and symptoms, dealing with stigma and trauma associated with mentalhealth and when and where to get help.Commenting on the initiative,

Executive Director, Regulatory andCorporate Aairs, 9mobile, Abdulrahman Ado, remarked that mentalhealth needs to be given top priority, especially in the face of theunprecedented loss, anxiety and disruption occasioned by the Covid-19pandemic.

He said, “As a business that cares about the wellbeing of its customers,it has become imperative for us to champion conversations around theissue of mental health, especially at a time when the world is goingthrough one of the deadliest pandemics in history. Covid-19 hasexacted such heavy toll and triggered a spike in stress and anxiety-induced depression in people”

.“It is in light of this that we have teamed up with the Executive Director of She Writes Woman, Hauwa Ojeifo, to facilitate frankconversations around mental, emotional, and psychological health.With the session, we hope to empower Nigerians with the rightinformation on how to respond eectively to issues surrounding mentalhealth. We also hope that this eort will play a signi5cant role incutting the number of suicide-related deaths resulting from depression,he added.

” While reiterating the company’s continued commitment to initiativesthat drive positive change, Ado added that the health talk series alignswith 9mobile’s focus on health as one of its strategic pillars for socialintervention.

According to 5ndings by the World Health Organization, an estimatedone in eight Nigerians suer from mental illness. Anxiety is the mostcommon mental illness. Experts believe that with more education andawareness around the issue, people will be informed on how best tomanage their mental health and seek timely help where needed.