Stakeholders gathered at an engagement session on mental health and lived experiences organized by the Positive Pathways Initiative (PPI) to mark World Mental Health Day 2026.
During the session, participants emphasized the need for coordinated, adequately funded, and inclusive action to strengthen mental health care and psychosocial support across Kano State. The stakeholders presented key recommendations to government agencies, healthcare providers, educational institutions, civil society organizations, and other key partners:
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• Domestication of Mental Health Law: The Kano State government is urged to take concrete steps toward the domestication and implementation of the National Mental Health Act.
• Access to Mental Health Services: State authorities should expand the availability, accessibility, affordability, and quality of mental health services in both urban and rural communities, paying special attention to underserved populations.
• Social Welfare & Emergency Support:
o Develop a comprehensive state framework for mental health and psychosocial support during emergencies, disasters, epidemics, conflicts, displacement, and for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and human trafficking.
o Strengthen scholarship schemes and educational support for students pursuing psychiatry and related mental health disciplines to address the critical shortage of mental health professionals in Nigeria.
• Strengthen Social Protection & Primary Health Care:
o Empower the State Social Protection Agency to provide specialized services for psychiatric care, rehabilitation, child and adolescent mental health, substance-use treatment, and community-based care.
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o Integrate sustainable mental health services into Primary Health Care (PHC) centers across Kano State to facilitate early identification, basic treatment, counseling, referral, and follow-up.
• Funding & Workforce Expansion:
o Increase and sustain funding for mental health infrastructure, personnel, research, interventions, and public awareness programs.
o Recruit and retrain qualified psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, counselors, social workers, occupational therapists, and rehabilitation professionals.
o Improve safety and security measures across rehabilitation centers, remand homes, and related institutions.
• Standard Operating Procedures: Establish standing operational procedures with all key stakeholders to respond effectively to mental health emergencies and emerging issues.
The communique concluded with a call to action for relevant authorities and community partners to work collaboratively toward a mental health system that respects the dignity and lived experiences of every person.
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The recommendations were formally endorsed and signed by key agency representatives, including officials from NAPTIP, SEMA, Medical professionals, state ministry of women affairs, children and disabled, legal practitioners and civil society partners among others.
