Happy New Year

Welcome To January

Happy New Year MANISTAR!

As we have stepped boldly into 2025, let’s take a moment to celebrate the remarkable milestones we achieved together in 2024. It wasn’t just a year of hard work, it was a year of transformation, impact, and resilience. Your dedication, relentless pursuit of excellence, and unrelenting passion were the beating heart of everything we accomplished. Whether it was stepping up to face challenges head-on, bringing fresh ideas to the table, or creating lasting connections within our community, every single effort you made left a lasting mark. For that,  we are deeply grateful and incredibly proud to work with such an inspiring team.

But this is just the beginning, together, let’s harness the energy, synergy, and commitment that defined us last year and channel it into making this year even more impactful. Let’s dream bigger, work smarter, and push boundaries to create a legacy that truly matters.

Thank you for your enthusiasm, your perseverance, and for being the driving force behind our shared vision. Your efforts make all the difference. Here’s to a year of growth, breakthroughs, and unforgettable moments.

Let’s make January the launchpad for an extraordinary 2025, together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve!

WHAT’S NEW

1) TRAINING: We are excited to announce a series of training sessions this month to equip you with the skills needed to thrive in the new year.

  • Data Collection Training for MANICAN Members:  This year, we’re empowering every member to take ownership of their data. As part of our monthly training, all members will be trained on data collection, collation, and reporting. We will be exploring the use of a new platform to report our activities. This platform is called Kobo Collect, you know we are always looking for ways to ensure we make things easy and smooth. This is a training you do not want to miss.

  • Subgroup Training: This month, we’ll be training the subgroups (Programs, Welfare and Training subgroup) on key topics such as storytelling, public speaking, street outreach, and other essential skills for effective advocacy and stigma reduction. 

Stay tuned for more details about the dates and times, which will be shared in your respective groups.

2) ORIENTATION AND TRAINING FOR NEW MEMBERS: This month, we’ll be holding virtual orientation and training sessions for new MANICAN members. Keep an eye out for updates on these sessions, and we look forward to your active involvement in planning and making it a success!

We’re excited to see you involved!

3) RADIO SHOW: We’re delighted to announce the continuation of our radio program, “Let’s Talk Mental Health,” this year. For January, the show will air on two stations: Unilag FM and Yabatech FM, on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

Schedule:

  • Topic: Glow Up Goals: Turning New Year Goals into Habits
    Date: 7/01/2025
    Time & Venue: YABATECH Radio 89.3FM at 11:00 AM; UNILAG Radio 103.1FM at 12:15 PM

  • Topic: Managing Uncertainty: Keeping Anxiety at Bay
    Date: 21/01/2025
    Time & Venue: YABATECH Radio 89.3FM at 11:00 AM

Mark your calendars and tune in! Would you like to be a guest on the show? Reach out to us

4) MENTAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE PRE-TEST: As usual practice new quarter, it is time for our quarter pre-test, to assess our mental health knowledge. Please complete the test promptly using the link below:: 

Here’s a quick review of December

1) RADIO SHOW: STAN UNILAG and STAN YABATECH wrapped up the year with engaging radio discussions on “Year-end Reflection: Mental Health Check-In” and “From Goals to Growth: Honoring Your Progress in 2024.” These enlightening episodes aired on YABATECH Radio 89.3FM and UNILAG Radio 103.1FM, fostering meaningful conversations about mental health and personal growth.

If you missed these episodes, don’t worry—stay tuned for more insightful content airing this month!

2) COMMUNITY EVENT: We ended the year on a high note by bringing our community members together for a memorable event-themed “Good Vibes Only: Relax, Reflect, Reconnect.” Participants enjoyed engaging and relaxing activities, including sip and paint, mandala art coloring, group discussions, games, and more.

Be on the lookout for our first physical community event of the year, we can't wait to connect with you again!

Take a peek at the highlights from the event by clicking the link below:
View Event Photos

3) COMMEMORATION: To commemorate International Men's Day 2024, some members collaborate with another organisation to host an event. The event featured engaging activities such as keynote speeches, experience-sharing breakout sessions, and interactive discussions, all aimed at promoting awareness of men’s mental health and well-being. Centered around the theme “Breaking the Silence: Men’s Mental Health Awareness,” the program created a safe space for meaningful conversations and impactful connections within the community.

Here's what to remember:

  1. We are to carry out mental health awareness in our groups monthly. Our activities include:

  • MANI Talk:  Mental Health pitches that you can sneak in while waiting for your lecture or where we have an opportunity to speak, in our churches or mosque, or during your coffee break. Basically, anywhere you find a captive audience!

  • Curb Walk Talk: Grab a friend and or take a stroll around your neighborhood, spreading the good word about mental health. Think of it as a health-conscious gossip session!

  • Conduct quarterly conversation cafes: Think coffee hangouts with a twist—chats about mental health served up in our favorite and planned spots.

  • Training of primary and secondary school students, parents, and teachers: We’re not stopping at the community. We’re hitting primary and secondary school students, teachers, and parents. Yes, even the parents need to get in on this!

  1. Documentation: After all that action, don’t forget to document it! Message your admins for the report templates, so we don’t lose track of all our awesomeness. Remember, take loads of pictures and share them with us.

Recommendations for January.

Here’s our song recommendation for January

  • APT. by Rosé, Bruno Mars

  • Get it Right by Tems, Asake

  • Another Day by Llona

Here’s our movie recommendation for January

  • The Waiter

  • Everybody Loves Jenifa

  • Moana 2

Here’s our anime recommendation for January.

  • Laid-Back Camp

  • Sweetness & Lightning

Here’s our book recommendation for January

  • Water baby by Chioma Okereke

  • Atomic Habits by James Clear

  • The Parlour Wife by Foluso Agbaje

Start your day right with #Rumination@5. Join our community of rumination subscribers who enjoy a dose of positive, upliftment, and insightful notes from us. https://mentally-awares-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe.

Remember to follow us on all our social media pages @MentallyAwareNG

Here’s our activity recommendation for January:

Start the year by exploring new hobbies or revisiting old ones. Whether it’s painting, learning an instrument, or taking up a fitness challenge, these activities help nurture your well-being. Set achievable goals for 2025 and create a simple plan to stay on track. Make time for quality moments with loved ones and also remember to take some quiet moments for yourself to recharge.

Self-care reminder:

As we step into the new year, take a moment to reflect on your journey and celebrate what you’ve achieved. Even if some goals are still in progress, that’s perfectly okay. Include moments for rest and recharge this season, whether through reflection, quality time with loved ones, or simply doing something you enjoy. Prioritize your well-being and begin the year with renewed energy and a fresh mindset! 💖

Yours Truly,

Ebuka