Mental health professionals, youth leaders and stakeholders has called for the creation of safe spaces where young people can openly discuss their emotional struggles without fear of stigma or judgement, describing such environments as vital to tackling rising mental health challenges and suicide among youths in Ekiti State.
The call was made at a conference organised by Member representing Ado Constituency I in the Ekiti Youth Parliament, Miss Precious Babatunde.
The event, themed, “Youth Well-Being and Suicide Prevention In Ekiti State,” was held in Ado-Ekiti on Friday.
Babatunde said the programme was conceived in response to the growing number of suicide cases among young people in the state.
She explained that the idea stemmed from discussions with the Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development before his inauguration into the Youth Parliament.
“The Commissioner raised concerns about the number of suicide-related cases coming to his table and challenged me to do something meaningful after assuming office. That conversation stayed with me,” she said.
She noted that further research showed mental health and suicide prevention still receive inadequate public attention despite their increasing prevalence among young people.
“We realised that many young persons in Ekiti and across Nigeria are silently battling mental health challenges, yet society hardly discusses them. This programme is aimed at giving young people a voice and encouraging conversations around mental well-being,” Babatunde added.
She urged youths facing emotional or psychological difficulties not to suffer in silence but to seek help from trusted individuals.
During the panel session, titled “Creating Safe Spaces: Strengthening Youth Mental Well-being and Preventing Suicide in Ekiti State,”participants described a safe space as more than a physical location, stating it could also be an individual who provides emotional support without condemnation, an environment or community where people are accepted, encouraged and supported rather than judged based on their experiences.
Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Adedamola Igbinlade argued that safe spaces are not necessarily buildings but trusted individuals who listen without criticism.
He observed that many parents unintentionally fail to provide such support because children often fear being criticised when they express their feelings.
“We need to grow as parents and as a society. Young people should be able to speak honestly without the fear of being condemned,” he stated.
Dr. Igbinlade clarified that mental health should not be confused with mental illness. He explained that good mental health is a state of well-being that enables individuals to recognise their abilities, cope with normal stresses of life, work productively and contribute meaningfully to society.
He stressed that experiencing stress is a normal part of life and should not automatically be interpreted as poor mental health.
“There is normal stress and there is abnormal stress. Preparing for examinations, planning a wedding or striving to achieve goals are normal life stresses. What matters is developing healthy ways of coping with them,” he said.
The psychiatrist cautioned against the casual use of the term “depression,” noting that clinical depression is a serious medical condition requiring professional attention.
“I am sad is different from saying I am depressed. Psychiatric depression is a serious illness. We must stop using the term loosely,” he added.
He further noted that some mental health conditions may arise from genetic predisposition or other factors beyond an individual’s control, urging the public to replace judgement with compassion. Suicide, he said, is preventable when people receive timely support.
Also speaking, Dr. Mojisola Daramola emphasised the importance of early intervention, stressing that emotional distress should never be dismissed as a sign of weakness.
She urged families, schools, religious organisations and community leaders to become more intentional in recognising warning signs and creating supportive environments.
Dr. Daramola encouraged youths to build healthy coping mechanisms and seek professional help whenever they feel overwhelmed, noting that silence often worsens mental health conditions.
She maintained that promoting open conversations, reducing stigma and ensuring access to counselling and mental health services remain critical steps towards preventing suicide and improving the overall well-being of young people in the state.
A student leader and Medical Student, Mr. Olatunji Famuyide shared how listening to a distressed student who had repeatedly failed examinations helped restore the student’s confidence.
Another Panelist, Mr. Oluwafemi Tinubu identified pressure as one of the biggest threats to young people’s mental well-being, citing academic expectations, financial hardship, relationship issues and family demands as common stressors.
He said many youths silently internalise these pressures, making it essential to create environments where they can freely express themselves.
“A safe space allows young people to unburden their minds, receive encouragement and realise they are not alone because nobody succeeds entirely on their own,” Tinubu said.
