KEY POINTS
- Nigerian celebrities are openly discussing mental health struggles, breaking stigmas.
- Collaborations with organizations like MANI amplify campaigns and provide access to mental health resources.
- Celebrities promote mental wellness through storytelling, music, and comedy, fostering dialogue and acceptance.
Over the last few years, advocacy for mental health has been on the rise in Nigeria; a country where previously, speaking about mental health was rare.
Contributing to this shift are Nigerian celebrities who have taken up the mantle of advocacy, using their platforms to destigmatize mental health issues and encourage open dialogue.
Through stories, collaborations with non-profits and mental health advocacy, those in the spotlight are changing public opinion and culture.
Breaking the silence around mental health
Nigerian celebrities are breaking the silence around mental health by sharing their personal struggles and triumphs.
Renowned musician Joeboy, for instance, has openly discussed his battles, how he had to stay off social media and the importance of seeking professional help.
Similarly, Nollywood actress Adesua Etomi-Wellington, in December 2024, posted on Instagram, urging her followers to remain resilient and committed to their aspirations.
Social media platforms have become a powerful tool for advocacy. Celebrities like Timi Dakolo frequently use Instagram and Twitter to share motivational messages and encourage their audiences to prioritize mental well-being.
By normalizing these conversations, they challenge long-standing stigmas and promote a culture of acceptance and support.
Collaborations and campaigns
Besides such promotion individually, Nigerian celebrities have joined organizations to support the campaign for mental health.
Nigerian Afro-pop sensation, Llona, partnered with the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI), one of the country’s leading mental health advocacy groups, to promote access to mental health resources.
Jointly, they have conducted operations such as awareness creation, online seminars, and advocacy to young people in Nigeria.
Also, in 2020, Nigerian actress and singer-songwriter Tonto Dikeh, has openly discussed her personal struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts.
She emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help and has been involved in various mental health awareness campaigns.
Promoting mental wellness through entertainment
Today’s celebrities are now portraying mental health issues in their artistic pieces, thus are creating awareness out of stories.
Films like “Lionheart” by Genevieve Nnaji and music by artists such as Burna Boy often touch on themes of resilience, self-discovery, and emotional struggles, encouraging audiences to reflect on their mental health.
Comedy, too, has played a role in advocacy. Comedians like Debo Adedayo, popularly known as Mr. Macaroni, creates skits that often tackle societal issues, including those related to mental health.
This way, he makes people focus on simple day to day issues using some comedy and raise awareness on mental health and the need for people to take care of themselves.
The impact and the road ahead
The efforts of Nigerian celebrities in this issue have made many people in Nigeria concerned about their mental conditions and help their families and friends.
Particularly, there are still obstacles, for instance, restrictive mental health care and a scarcity of qualified personnel.
Increased awareness for mental health can only be beneficial if advocacy is coupled with actual changes, which centralised system can provide.
For this reason, Nigerian celebrities are using their platforms for not only awareness but to fight for necessary change in the society.
Such impact brings to the foreground one of the most valuable consequences of visibility, as well as reminding everyone about the significance of paying attention to the health of their mind.
