Mental illness spares no one, says UNIOSUN psychiatrist

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

A Consultant Psychiatrist at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Dr. Folasade Dare, has warned that mental illness spares no one, stressing that anybody with a brain can experience a breakdown.

Delivering a lecture titled “Breaking the Culture of Silence: Mental Health, Embracing Life” at a sensitisation programme organised by the Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Osogbo, Dr. Dare described mental health as an integral part of overall well-being, noting that no one is immune to mental illness.

She identified genetic, environmental, social, and emotional factors as causes of mental disorders, lamenting that stigma and misconceptions — such as believing that mental illness is a spiritual attack or personal weakness, that it is contagious, or that people living with mental illness can never recover or live a normal life — have continued to prevent victims from seeking help.

The psychiatrist, who decried the culture of silence driven by shame and fear of judgment, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis. She also called on the government to enact anti-discrimination laws and invest in mental health services.

In her goodwill message, the Osun State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, Hon. Ayobola Awolowo, commended NAWOJ for its bold advocacy on mental health, noting that too many people, especially women and vulnerable groups, suffer in silence due to societal stigma.

She said the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke remains committed to promoting the well-being of women and children through counselling, support centres, and welfare programmes.

Awolowo urged women journalists to use their platforms compassionately to drive public enlightenment, encourage help-seeking behaviour, and tell “stories that heal, not harm,” emphasizing that every life is worth saving.

In her welcome address, the Chairperson of NAWOJ, Comrade Abisola Ariwodola, said the sensitisation programme marks the beginning of a renewed effort to break the silence, promote awareness, and build a supportive culture of understanding toward mental health issues.