Experts to review mental health bill at maiden Confab

Health experts, some of which include renowned doctors, psychiatrists and therapists will be reviewing the Mental Health Bill which was recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Mental Health Conference.

Themed, ‘The Mind Behind the Mask,’ the conference is scheduled to hold 19th of March 2023 at the Oriental Hotel Ballroom, Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria.

Maymunah Yusuf-Kadiri, the convener, of the conference stated the conference is coming at time when about eight in 10 women experience some form of mental health illnesses during the course of their lifetime, and more common mental health related illnesses such as; clinical depression, anxiety, drug abuse, postpartum depression amongst others.

Yusuf-Kadiri stated in today’s climate, mental health is no longer a subject to be swept under the carpet or its importance disregarded, as Nigeria has a collective responsibility as a people to lend voices and extend influences towards creating a safe and harmonious community for women and people in general.

She however assured that a glimmer of hope struck as president, Muhammadu Buhari recently passed the Mental health bill which was both timely and instructive.

Yusuf-Kadiri who was also instrumental towards orchestrating and ensuring that this bill was passed stated that event will be highly practical and engaging and will feature an interactive four hours panel session with notable key industry leaders and mental health
ambassadors, an on-site therapy session (Lounge) with licensed Therapists &
Psychiatrist.

The conference will also provide an intensive mental health assessment test, an on-site medical consultation with licensed medical professionals, an award for NGOs who have madeimpactful strides with the awareness of mental health, and individuals who have thrived and triumphed, amongst other things.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.