Q3 Newsletter 2024

Hey MANI Fam! 🌟

Let’s take a look at Q3 of 2024, let’s take a second to reflect on the whirlwind of amazingness and powerful momentum that carried us through these months. From impactful activities to transformative training sessions, MANI’s been on a mission to spread mental health awareness like confetti across Nigeria. We’re smashing stigmas, growing stronger, and empowering more individuals to prioritize their mental health and care for themselves and those around them. It's been a season of progress, collaboration, and community, and we’re just getting started! 🚀

Events and Activities: We’ve Been BUSY!

Remember how the Student Advocate Network (STAN) and MANI Community Advocacy Network (MANICAN) have been serving us non-stop action?  Well, they’ve been taking it to the next level, going school to school, teaching about suicide prevention, sharing the real tea on mental health self-care, changing narratives on suicide, and educating all on the right languages to use when speaking about suicide or mental health. But don’t worry if you're not in school because the Network came through with a video series on all things suicide prevention. 

That’s not all the network did; each network (shoutout to Unilag, Yabatech, FUTO, and Uniabuja!) commemorated World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) with both on-campus and virtual vibes. Panel discussions, X Space convos, conversation cafĂ©s, and mental health walks were just some of the ways we sparked dialogue on suicide prevention and Changing the Narrative on Suicide. 

Off-campus? You know the vision is to ensure everyone is mentally aware, so we went from on-campus to off-campus engagement. We had MANI Talks, Curb Walks, and more Conversation CafĂ©s with students, youth, and adults. It’s all about fostering interactive discussions, spreading awareness, and encouraging openness when it comes to mental health. 💬

MANI X Space Sessions: We hosted insightful X-Space sessions on "Winning Big, Losing Bigger: The Gamble with Addiction." If you missed the live sessions, catch the recordings here https://x.com/mentallyawareng/status/1827043192052847033?s=46.

Let’s Talk Mental Health on Radio: Our "Let’s Talk Mental Health" radio program gained momentum! We’re live on Yabatech Radio every first and third Tuesday at 11 AM and on UNILAG Radio on the first Tuesday at 12:15 PM. You do not want to miss it.

Collaborations: This quarter saw meaningful collaborations. We partnered with Ikeja Bird to commemorate WSPD at Dansol High School and worked with Molayo, a youth corps member, to host a secondary school debate on suicide prevention at Agindingbe High School. STAN members collaborate with organisations to spread knowledge and create awareness of Mental health.

We love to ensure all our mental advocates are up to date; we don’t just stop at advocacy; we train our volunteers to be lit and informed! You know we can’t be out here sharing vibes without proper info! Remember last quarter when we had a volunteer hangout? We did the same this quarter, but with a twist: we had our virtual quarterly hangout! We discussed Gambling Addiction and educated ourselves on Disability Inclusion, Suicide Awareness and Suicide Prevention. Because in 2024, we have to keep up with the times or risk being janded (outdated). 😉

We now have drum rolls Gatekeepers on campus: These gatekeepers are trained in Psychological First Aid, preparing them to act as first responders to individuals experiencing mental health crises on campus!!.

You thought this quarter was all about creating awareness, no way. 

We’ve been seriously holding it down with our free counselling services. Whether it’s personal struggles or just needing someone to talk to, our counselling team has been the rock for so many. With each conversation, we guided people through their challenges, empowering them to find strength and reclaim their well-being. 💚 Let’s keep fostering hope, one step at a time.

Client Feedback: Your Voices Matter

We’re excited to share some of the heartfelt feedback from clients who have benefited from our services:

  • “Thank you for the platform. Didn't know I can get something like that for free 

  • Thank you for this, for giving me the privilege. Through this process, I figured I just needed someone to talk to and share things with to clear my head and put me on the right track again. Thank for you this free service.This gives everyone access to free counselling. 

  • My counsellor was very nice, all thanks to her, I can say I feel a bit better, she made me understand that healing is a process, even if it takes time.

  • I have used your services thrice and recommended to friends dealing with issues, you should get more people like My counselor

  • I can’t appreciate my counselor enough, but I must say she’s a good listener and doesn’t even leave any little detail asides without trying to help manage it.”ack like

If you or someone you know would like to speak to a counsellor, remember, MANI is here for you. Call us at 08091116264 or send us a DM on any of our social media platforms, @mentallyawareng 

Now let’s not forget our social media Geng

Communications Department: The Social Butterflies of Our Team

This quarter, the Communications Department spread its wings and flew high, leading a whirlwind of engaging activities and events to connect with our online community. From witty posts to eye-catching graphics, they’ve been our digital cheerleaders, making sure we’re not just talking to ourselves!

IG Live Check-In: A Dysthymia Dive

This quarter, we hosted an entertaining IG Live session that was almost as exciting as finding an extra fry at the bottom of the bag! We dove into the topic of dysthymia and connected with our fabulous followers. If you missed it, don’t sweat it! We’ll be back next quarter with another thrilling session, where our experts will be ready to tackle your burning questions. So mark your calendars, trust us, you won’t want to miss out! 🎉 

Social Media Shenanigans: Join the Fun!

Our Communication Department has been busy stirring up some digital magic! đŸŽ©âœš We’ve been engaging our online community with a delightful mix of educational and entertaining graphics, videos, and content. From our eye-catching Permission Slip to the witty E-VOX POP and the enlightening Term of the Week, we’re all about sparking vibrant conversations around mental health. Let’s not forget the Weekly Feature! You can also feature; just send us a DM.

But wait, there’s more! 🎉 If you haven’t already, be sure to follow our social media pages and hit that notification button. You won’t want to miss out on the fun and knowledge we’re serving up because who said learning about mental health can’t be a blast? Let’s spread the word about mental health together! 

Rise and Shine with Rumination @5! ☕✹ 

We're on a mission to sprinkle a little joy into your mornings with our Rumination @5! Every Monday and Friday at the crack of dawn (5 AM, to be exact), we send out a dose of positivity straight to your inbox. Who needs coffee when you can start your day with an uplifting message that’s bound to inspire? ☀

So, if you want to kickstart your mornings with a smile and some good vibes, don’t forget to subscribe via the link. 

Looking Ahead... 👀

Q4 is coming in hot, and we’ve got even more lined up! Keep an eye out for our Free Therapy supported by Microsoft Give Campaign, and don’t forget to follow us on all our platforms for the latest news, tips, and events. You really don’t want to miss out on what’s coming next!

Get Involved:

Closing Note: You’re the Real MVP!
We appreciate your unwavering support in making mental health a priority. Together, we can continue to create safe spaces for conversations and spread awareness. Let’s keep breaking the stigma and changing the narrative. đŸ’Ș

Stay aware, stay mentally healthy!

Sincerely,
The MANI Team

Gallery Spotlight: Moments That Inspire!