Talking about mental health in Nigeria can still feel like breaking a taboo. But while the stigma persists, a growing number of individuals and communities are showing us what it looks like to lead with empathy.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we spotlight five organisations that are not only advocating for mental wellness but actively transforming the way Nigerians experience care. From communal wellness programmes to youth-focused education and survivor-led advocacy, these mental health superheroes are creating spaces where people are truly seen, heard, and healed.
Chop and Chat
Healing doesn’t have to feel clinical. Chop and Chat is bringing therapy into everyday spaces, making it accessible, familiar, and even joyful. This innovative platform combines food and conversation into a wellness programme. By hosting intimate “chop and chat” sessions where people can eat and speak freely about mental struggles, the community fosters trust, vulnerability, and healing. With events across Lagos and virtual offerings, Chop and Chat is turning the simple act of sharing a meal into a tool for collective care.
Asido Foundation
The Asido Foundation is a national non-profit working to close the gap in Nigeria through research, policy advocacy, and grassroots education. With campaigns targeting schools, faith-based organizations, and traditional rulers, the foundation is building a movement that is informed, inclusive, and nationwide. Asido doesn’t just treat mental illness; it seeks to prevent it through early intervention, community training, and continuous awareness.
Psychebabble Foundation
Psychebabble Foundation is a youth-led nonprofit organization working to increase awareness through education, advocacy, and direct service. Their programmes focus on young people, and they offer free mental health services, including counselling. With a strong presence in schools and online spaces, they use peer education and youth-friendly campaigns to reduce stigma, increase access, and create safe spaces where young Nigerians can find support, knowledge, and healing.
Idimma
Idimma, which means “it is well” in Igbo, is a mental health organisation focused on fostering emotional well-being and resilience through relevant resources and services. Their approach is built on four pillars: counselling, community building, capacity development, and content creation. By offering accessible mental health services, delivering relevant educational content, and partnering with communities, Idimma is helping Nigerians better understand their mental health and develop tools for healing. Their work is rooted in empathy, evidence-based practices, and a deep respect for local realities.
She Writes Woman
In 2016, Hauwa Ojeifo survived a suicide attempt. That same year, she founded She Writes Woman, a movement that gives mental health a voice in Nigeria by centring the dignity, rights, and lived experiences of people with psychosocial disabilities. Survivor-led from the start, the organisation is reshaping mental health advocacy through a rights-based lens. From launching Nigeria’s first 24/7 mental health helpline to pioneering legislative reform, public education, and trauma-informed peer support, She Writes Woman is building a system where mental health care is not just available but compassionate, inclusive, and rooted in justice.
These five organisations prove that care can take many forms: a support group, a shared meal, a phone call, or a space to be believed. As Nigeria continues to face structural and cultural barriers to mental wellness, these communities are building new paths forward, one conversation at a time. On this Mental Health Awareness month, we celebrate them and the many others quietly doing the work to make healing more possible.
