Over 300 students of Lagos City College and Wesley College, Yaba, have benefitted from the Behavioral, Emotional & Safety Support (B.E.S.S.) Programme, a school-based mental health initiative by The Mental Health Conference (TMHC) and Pinnacle Medical Services, led by Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, Nigeria’s leading neuro-psychiatrist and mental health advocate.
Themed “Trauma: It’s Okay Not To Be Okay,” the programme taught students about trauma, emotional wellbeing, and resilience — showing that emotional pain is not weakness and that healing begins when we talk about our struggles.
Dr. Maymunah Kadiri, Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist and Convener of TMHC, said the initiative aims to help students understand their emotions early and build mental strength to thrive in today’s world.
“Our children face academic pressure, bullying, family stress, and social media anxiety,” she said. “This programme gives them tools to identify their emotions, ask for help, and stay mentally strong.”
Dr. May urged corporate organizations to view mental health not as charity but as an investment in Nigeria’s future, noting that emotionally resilient students lead to safer communities and a healthier workforce.
Through storytelling and interactive sessions, students learned to identify signs of trauma, support friends in distress, and seek help without shame.
Teachers were also trained on how to create emotionally safe classrooms and spot early warning signs.
A 15-year-old participant shared: “I used to think trauma only meant losing someone. Now I know it can come from pressure or stress. I learned it’s okay to talk about how I feel.”
The B.E.S.S. Programme aims to reach 10,000 students in 2026, as part of a broader effort to integrate mental health education into Nigerian schools.
Dr. May concluded, “We’ve seen what one session can do. Now imagine what a sustained program can achieve — the future of Nigeria depends on the mental health of its young people.”