By Ejiofor Toochi
To commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day, IkejaBird, in partnership with Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI), organized a suicide awareness session at Dansol High School, Ikeja, to educate students on preventive measures.
The program, which was held on the 11th of September, 2024, was made accessible to all students from JSS1 to SS3, as IkejaBird recognizes the need to start educating the younger generation early.
The students were addressed by Jolayemi Robinson, Vice President of the Student Advocacy Network (STAN), UNILAG under MANI. She effectively explained key terms surrounding suicide, including its causes, triggers, and signs of suicidal thoughts. She also gave practical advice on how students could recognize these signs and seek help promptly.
Speaking to IkejaBird, Oluwatomilayo Awodoyin, a representative of MANI, and Clinical Psychologist, emphasized the need for early education amongst children, as mental health issues are not limited to adults.
She explained, “Suicide doesn’t just happen to adults, even the younger ones also contemplate suicide. So it’s important that we teach them—that they know about mental health in general and suicide so that they can apply the good knowledge to their lives as they grow up.”
Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) is Nigeria’s largest youth-run and youth-focused mental health organization, dedicated to creating awareness on mental health and providing training and workshops for schools, communities and workplaces.
In the last few years, suicide rates have been on the rise globally, with Nigeria being no exception. By organizing this session, IkejaBird and MANI have taken a step toward ensuring that the students are not only aware of the importance of mental health but are also empowered with the necessary tools to prevent suicide.
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