On October 10th of every year, the world commemorates mental health and this
year, it is aimed at bridging the gap in access to mental health in an unequal world.
In commemoration of this year’s world mental health day- Sanemind a child
mental health organization providing accessible mental wellness solutions to African
children hosted the first of its kind Child Mental Health Summit with the theme Before
it is too late.
The Child Mental Health Summit was a one-day virtual event that was held on
Monday, 11th October 2021. It was an event aimed at equipping teachers and
parents with skills to detect early signs of mental health problems and promote
mental wellness in children, families, and schools. The event had over 120
participants.
The summit was well-packed with tools on intentional parenting, resilience building,
cultivation of growth mindset and fostering positive child mental health facilitated by
top-notch mental health experts and professionals in child’s mental health which
Sanemind believes will help increase awareness of child mental health and reduce
the gap in access to child’s mental health care if parents and educators are well
equipped.
The founder of Sanemind- Ruqoyah Ogunbiyi spoke on the need for parents and
educators to be well informed about the emotional and psychological needs of
children. These two institutions are the most impactful institutions in the life of a
child, she added. Ruqoyah also shared how the organization’s Positive Affirmation
Flashcards and Family bonding calendars are essential to building a positive inner voice
and resilience in children and adolescents.
According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 10 children have mental health
disorders and are unable to access mental services due to misconceptions and lack
of awareness. To ensure that every African child has access to mental wellness
solutions, parents, and educators need to be better equipped to promote mental
wellness, prevent and detect early signs.
Sanemind Advocacy Organisation remains committed to increasing access to mental
wellness solutions for African children.