The Anambra State graduates of Enugu State University, (ESUT), ASGRET, celebrated the 2025 world mental health day with a warm visit to the Anambra state Neuropsychiatric hospital, Nawfia where they had an emotional but fulfilling encounter with those suffering from different ranges of mental health challenges.
Today, 10th of October each year is set aside globally for the awareness creation of mental health illnesses.
In his welcome address, the president of ASGRET, Comrade Dan Onyeka Madugwuluike ably represented by his vice-chairman, Comrade Obika Chinedu gave some words of hope and encouragement to the mental health patients, titled, “YOU ARE NOT ALONE”. In his words, “this visit is a call to action and a key focus on mental health in humanitarian emergencies. The world battles lots of catastrophes and disasters, which leaves a great number of people in trauma. In these times of chaos, we focus on rescues and become ignorant of the fact that mental health distress doesn’t end when the chaos does. This brings a lingering question of ‘What happens after the rescue?”, he re-echoed.
His speech read in part” we join millions of people worldwide to make this day remarkable. We bring you a message of hope, appreciating you for seeking/ accepting help. Beloved, mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. What shames us all is stigma and bias. We want you to know that it is okay not to be okay, that is why we all need help. A healthy mind is very important for a healthy body because mental health is intrinsically linked to physical health. We are here to offer support, uplift your spirit, and say kudos to you on your progress so far. While appreciating you for the journey so far, we want you to remain resolute and committed in your care process. Though the darkness may seem thick, be assured that you are on a lighted tunnel that gets brighter along the way. Just go slowly, you will get through the hardest days. The trauma and the invisible walls you built to lock the pains may become a prison when locked in for too long. Embrace the process, and let it open gradually. Be mindful of self-harm and self injury, though this may not be obvious [this includes substance abuse, relationship with eating, and deliberate acts in ways that put you in danger].
We call on individuals and organizations to join hands in this fight. Let us commit to nurturing minds and supporting those around us, assit in orientation and re-orientation, highlight the importance of access, and embrace the call for greater inclusion and sustained investment in mental health psychosocial support (MHPSS).
To the staff and management of NeuroPsychiatric Hospital Nawfia, and all other health workers and caregivers fighting mental health distress, we can’t appreciate you enough. You are our ‘Unsung Heroes’, keep making the world a better place.
Brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, mental health doesn’t take a day off, fight for it today and everyday. We are with you on this; YOU ARE NOT ALONE “.
Taking them round the male and female wards to access the state of the patients, Nurse Ukamaka Onwuanyi who introduced the patients who appeared boisterous to the ASGRET members gave room for the recovering patients to recount their ordeal in an exuberant manner.
One of the patients who pleaded anonymity, narrated how he became mentally deranged after he found himself undeniably addicted to the taking of substances he called “kolos and Mkpụrụ mmiri”. It made him subjected to severe hallucinations which aggregated over time, he regrettedly stated. Some of the patients took time to also narrate their ill-fated ordeals that finally landed them to Neuropsychiatric hospital, Nawfia. With sober appreciation to the medical help they’re receiving from the hospital, they advised the younger ones in the society to desist from hard drugs, and substances capable of ruining their mental health and future.
Head of Nursing Sciences, Mrs Juliana Madu who received the members of ASGRET expressed sincere gratitude to the association for what she described as uncommon kindness. In her words, such selfless acts of charity is rare these days as most people ordinarily don’t remember that mentally challenged people deserve some acts of charity and encouragement. Mental health awareness day like today forms component of primary health care, she stated. Seizing the opportunity, she pleaded for more people to pluck a leaf from the members of ASGRET.
Highlights of the visit was sharing of meals and drinks to the patients totalling 98 male in-patients and
23 female in-patients.
Engr. Chinedu Ikeokwu, the secretary of the association and Mrs Nwankwo Ebere, welfare secretary, expressed satisfaction at the end of the visit, reminding the patients who never wished the day to come to an end that the association would always have them both in prayers and physical visits.
