The Amaudo Integrated Community Health Foundation in collaboration with Amaudo UK and Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu is set to organize a one day Mental Seminar for over 30 heads of Media Organizations.
Briefing Journalists while inaugurating an 8 man Committee for the planning of the event , the Director, Amaudo Intergrated Community Mental Health Foundation,Very Rev Kenneth Nwaubani disclosed that the event would take place on July 20, 2023.
He said that the theme for the seminar; “Changing The Narratives In Mental Health In Nigeria – The Role Of The Media”, is aimed at educating the media organizations on their role in creating awareness in mental health and addressing poor mental health knowledge.
Rev Nwaubani further stated that the seminar would address the negative socio-cultural and religious perceptions and interpretations of mental health that promote stigma and discrimination as well as reduce help seeking behaviors in mental health among populations.
“With better information on mental health, the media will be able to engage the Governments in Southeast Nigeria and Abia state in particular on the role government and their agencies play in ensuring that accessible and acceptable mental healthcare is provided for our population across the live course through effective mental health system in Nigeria and Southeast in particular.
“The media will ensure that Abia state which is the host state for Amaudo and most of the participating media organizations will benefit from this program and therefore serve as a case study for a scale up program in future”.
Nwaubani, while noting that the Amaudo Intergrated Community Health Foundation is a registered organization concerned with providing affordable and accessible mental healthcare for people, said the Center equally provides rehabilitation for people who are mentally ill and homeless as well as creates awareness on mental health in Nigeria and Southeast in particular.
He therefore urged members of the 8 man committee to see their selection as an opportunity to learn and contribute to mental health in Nigeria adding that they were carefully selected to assist the center plan the mental health seminar in line with their terms of reference which include media coverage and participation by various media organizations.
In an acceptance speech on behalf of other members, Chairman of the Committee, Mr Ezechukwu Adimoha promised that the members will work in line with their terms of reference,assuring that they would not disappoint.
