World Mental Health Day is an international day for mental health awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
The AUN Counseling and Psychological Unit and Mental Health Ambassadors (MHA) club came together on October 13, 2023, to raise awareness and commemorate World Mental Health Day with students of the Sandal Model Girls Nursery and Primary School while providing them with more than 300 school uniforms and writing materials.
Director of Public Speaking for the MHA club, Ms. Sharon Pedro, spoke to the students about "bullying" and its effects on their mental health and self-esteem while emphasizing the significance of mental health to the students. Students were instructed always to disclose any instances of bullying.
President of the MHA, Mr. Adio-Yinusa Oluwafeyiduntan, explained that it was their first outreach and a means of giving back to the community, which he said would continue.
Mr. Ramond Obindu, representing the AUN President, stated that the AUN President strongly supports mental health awareness and advised the school's teachers to investigate every pupil's complaint before taking action. The AUN Mental Health Ambassadors also instructed the students to make good use of and safely keep the school uniforms donated to them.
Mrs. Hauwa Abbas, the principal of Sanda Model Girls Nursery and Primary School, commended the gesture while appreciating AUN students whom she observed have a long history of community service.
A highlight of the outreach was a dancing chair game, which kept the students engaged and entertained with refreshments and beverages.
Report and Photograph by Chiedozie Joseph