WMHD: Clinical Psychologists Urge Nigerians To Protect Mental Health
The Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP), Anambra State Chapter have called on Nigerians to take care of their mental health at all times and avoid depression.
The experts made the call during an awareness rally to mark the 2026 edition of World Mental Day in Awka on Saturday.
The theme of the celebration was “Lived Experiences Heard, Real Voice, Real Change”.
Dr Chinwe Onyemaechi, chairman of NACP, Anam chapter said the association was worried by the rising cases of depression and suicidal thoughts among the people.
Onyemaechi, a lecturer at the Chukwuemeka Ojukwu University, Igbariam, advised people to speak out on issues bothering them, share their experiences with others and avoid dying in silence.
She described mental health as the totality of an individual’s well-being including physical, social, emotional and psychological or or anything that negatively affects the ability of people to cope with their daily activities.
She encouraged people to go for mental health check-ups as we do for physical checkups urging them to talk to their relatives, go to hospital or places where you have psychologists.
According to her, if what you going through affects your ability to function properly at home or at work, if it causes you harm, if it poses danger to you like suicide thought.
“If you lose interest in what makes you happy, cry all the time, experience hallucinations, delusions, lose interest in your environment or begin to be dependent on drugs, it is an indication that the person’s mental health has been affected.
“More importantly, if these signs persist for two weeks, the person should go and get psychological assistance,” she said.
Onyemaechi said the clinical psychologists association in Anambra will continue to raise awareness about mental health as a public health issue and provide support for people in need of psychological assistance.
