Tinubu: Mental Health Patients Must Help Shape Care

ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for people living with mental health conditions to have a stronger voice in shaping healthcare policies and services, warning against approaches that overlook the experiences of those directly affected.

In a message marking World Mental Health Day on Saturday, 10 October, Tinubu said the involvement of people with lived experience must extend beyond sharing personal stories to influencing decisions about their treatment, rights and well-being.

This year’s observance is themed “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.” The First Lady said the perspectives of people living with mental health conditions should inform the design and delivery of mental healthcare to ensure that services reflect their actual needs.

She also urged communities to challenge stigma and support more accessible, community-based mental health services.

According to her, mental healthcare must respect the dignity, rights and individual needs of those seeking support, rather than treating them as passive recipients of services. Her message emphasised the importance of listening to people affected by mental health conditions and including them in decisions concerning their care.

Stigma can discourage individuals and families from discussing mental health concerns or seeking professional assistance. Greater participation by people with lived experience can help service providers and policymakers understand these barriers and develop more responsive support systems.

World Mental Health Day is observed annually on 10 October to raise awareness of mental health issues and mobilise support for mental well-being.

About the Author

Mirian Gom

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Gom Mirian is a Nigerian journalist and editor at Africa Health Report (AHR), with more than a decade of experience covering health, development, humanitarian issues and public-interest affairs across Nigeria and Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics and has additional training in data analytics, combining evidence-driven reporting with compelling human-centred storytelling. Her work examines the intersection of health, policy, economics, technology and social change, with a particular interest in how global decisions and emerging challenges affect communities across Africa. Her journalism has received professional recognition, including a Nestlé Award nomination for human-interest reporting. Follow her on X @mirian_linus.

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