JUTH PSYCHIATRY DEPARTMENT TAKES MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS ROAD WALK TO TUDUN WAD
The Department of Psychiatry, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), has taken its mental health awareness campaign to Tudun Wada, Jos, to promote public understanding, encourage early intervention and address stigma associated with mental illness.
The campaign, held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, ahead of World Mental Health Day, commenced with a road walk from Tudun Wada Market along Ring Road to the Cottage Hospital, Tudun Wada, where the team sensitized healthcare workers and community members.
The 2026 theme is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
Consultant Psychiatrist at JUTH and Secretary-General of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Professor Kingsley Mayowa Okonoda, emphasized the importance of involving people with lived experiences of mental distress in mental health policy formulation, decision-making and service delivery.
He explained that their experiences provide valuable insights into improving mental healthcare, stressing that mental health is an essential part of overall well-being and that seeking professional help is a sign of strength.
Prof. Okonoda also highlighted the need to integrate mental health services into primary and secondary healthcare facilities to improve accessibility and reduce stigma.
Similarly, Dr. Kurkat Maigida advocated task-shifting through the training of healthcare workers, particularly those in primary healthcare centres, to ensure that mental health services are available closer to communities.
The Medical Superintendent of Cottage Hospital, Tudun Wada, Dr. Ekere T. Ekpo, welcomed the initiative and expressed the hospital’s readiness to collaborate with JUTH. He also highlighted the need for funding, personnel and continuous training to strengthen community-based mental healthcare, including the possibility of establishing a satellite mental health clinic.
The campaign concluded with a sensitization session for Cottage Hospital staff and the handover of mental health awareness banners to the facility.
The initiative reinforces JUTH’s commitment to promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma and advancing accessible, inclusive and patient-centred mental healthcare.
GALLERY
