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Put simply, it is a process that involves talking with a trained professional about a mental health issue or anything troubling you. Unfortunately, therapy is not so popular in Nigeria. So, we often hear arguments about their importance. Many Nigerians still believe that going for therapy or even paid counselling is a thing of luxury that the rich indulge in to show off wealth. But is this notion really true? Let's review all the variables that impact how people, especially Nigerians, see therapy. The High Cost Barrier ALSO READ: Lil Kesh opens up about mental health struggles, dealing with ADHD Therapy in Nigeria remains largely unaffordable for the average person, so, understandably, many people don't think about it even when going through the most difficult mental stress. Private sessions often range from ₦10,000 to ₦30,000 per hour, with specialised therapies and psychiatric drugs adding to the financial burden. This pricing makes t...

Kathmandu, June 14 -- Marking Pride Month, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) organised a two-day training for health professionals on chemsex harm reduction and LGBTQIA+ mental health support. Led by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the ministry, the orientation aimed to equip health workers with the skills to provide inclusive and stigma-free care. Held from June 11, the orientation trained psychiatrists, general practitioners, medical officers, and opioid agonist therapy nurses from Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Parsa, Rupandehi, and Kaski districts. According to the organisers, the training was designed to raise awareness among healthcare providers about the rising use of sexualised drugs, known as chemsex, and its impact on the mental health of the users. Facilitated by advocacy groups, Blue Diamond Society and Recovering Nepal, the training was conducted under the Chemsex Harm Reduction Project, supported by British pharmaceutical company...

I rarely watch movies, but during the recent long holiday, I finally sat down to see one. It wasn’t the most popular title, but the story caught my attention because it portrayed a character living with what was supposed to be a dissociative disorder. But almost everything about that portrayal was wrong. I had seen this kind of misrepresentation in one or two other films before now, and I remember thinking to myself, “One day, I’ll write about this.” So when our last series ended, I knew it was time. Dissociative disorders are not as widely talked about as depression or other mental health conditions yet they affect people in real ways. They can show up at any age but often begin in childhood, especially in children who’ve gone through trauma, abuse, or severe emotional neglect. Sometimes, the signs show up early, but no one really connects the dots. You may see a child who often “zones out” or seems like they’re in their own world, and people just call them quiet or imaginative. ...

A suicidal young girl was refused NHS mental-health counselling because she attends private school, her mother claims. Because the youngster was being bullied at a state school, her despairing parents had only just moved her to a private school. But when she was finally assessed by mental-health services at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust after months on the waiting list, her mother claims she was told: 'If you can afford private school fees, you can afford private counselling.' The woman, from Somerset, who wishes to remain anonymous to avoid further prejudice towards her daughter, said: 'I was shocked and incensed. 'I was even told that if I had kept my daughter at a state school, they would have helped her. It's blatant discrimination.' The girl, now 12, had been diagnosed as autistic a year earlier, but her symptoms had become more severe and her mental health had deteriorated. She was referred to the Child and Adult Mental Health Se...

It’s Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and listen, I come in peace. But I must report us, ladies. We’ve fumbled.We are the undisputed queens of communication, yes. But when it comes to talking to men in a way that feeds their soul instead of frying their ego. We drop the ball. Hard. Arsenal style.We know how to say, “Where were you?” with tears. We can hit, “Why don’t you open up?” like we’re auditioning for a telenovela.But how often do we say things like, “You don’t have to be strong all the time”? Or, “Even when you’re broke, you still matter to me”? Or the big one: “I’m proud of you”?Exactly. Cue awkward silence. Maybe a confused meme. Definitely no affirmation.The truth is, men want to hear those things. They just don’t know how to ask. Because society told them feelings are for women, babies, and maybe Wema.So now, when you compliment a man’s emotional effort, he looks at you like you just handed him a live snake.But fear not. I’ve done the work. I’ve listened in on barbershop...