Mental Health Conference 3.0 Confronts Trauma, Sparks Global Dialogue
Every scar tells a story. Some are whispered in silence, some hidden behind carefully curated smiles, and others etched so deeply into the human spirit that they shape how we breathe, love, and live.
According to a statement by the organizers, this year, the Mental Health Conference 3.0 which is scheduled to hold at Alliance Francaise Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre dares to confront these silent truths with the bold and necessary question: “Trauma, what’s your story?”
The statement also stated that for too long, trauma has been the unseen architect of fractured families, broken workplaces, and wounded societies.
The statement further explained that it hides in the shadows, rarely addressed and often misunderstood.
“In many cultures, we are taught to suppress pain, sweep it under the rug, and pray that time will erase its impact. Yet silence is no healer. Pain left unspoken does not vanish, it festers.
“It seeps into decisions, relationships, and communities, dictating futures in quiet, destructive ways. Until wounds are named, they cannot truly heal.
“The Mental Health Conference 3.0 is more than an academic or professional gathering; it is a movement built on truth, healing, and transformation. This year’s theme issues a powerful invitation to individuals, families, organizations, and communities to lift the veil on suffering and begin a shared journey from pain to resilience.
“By placing trauma at the center of its dialogue, the conference acknowledges that silence is an obstacle to healing. Every story, however painful, deserves to be heard, honored, and ultimately transformed into a source of strength.
“The programme has been carefully crafted to shine a light on areas many would prefer to avoid. Keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions will confront topics such as intergenerational trauma, the invisible burden passed down through families like an unwanted inheritance.
“It will explore workplace stress and burnout, where countless professionals silently collapse under unrelenting demands. It will highlight post-traumatic growth, the remarkable ability of people to rise stronger after adversity. And it will challenge cultural silence, that ingrained belief that pain must be endured privately instead of healed collectively.
The organizers said that it is not a passive event where participants merely listen. It is an active space of engagement, reflection, and transformation. Attendees will leave with not only deeper insight but also practical tools to turn private battles into collective victories.
At the heart of the gathering is storytelling. The convener and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri explained, “Trauma is not just about what happened to you, but about what you continue to carry. Healing begins when we tell our stories and stop letting silence hold us hostage.”
Her words capture the heartbeat of the conference: storytelling as medicine, as resistance, and as liberation.
“Each time a story is shared, the chains of silence weaken, and when stories meet, communities begin to heal.
“The Mental Health Conference 3.0 promises not only local relevance but global resonance. With an inspiring lineup of mental health professionals, advocates, thought leaders, and storytellers, this year’s edition will be accessible both physically and virtually, ensuring participation across borders.
She said: “Africa speaks, and the world listens. The voices rising from this platform will not only illuminate local challenges but also enrich the global conversation on trauma, resilience, and collective healing.
“The call to action is clear. On Friday, 3rd October, all are invited to gather, listen, share, and heal. Because every story matters.
“Every scar matters. Healing matters. The time for silence has ended, the time for shame is over. Trauma: What’s your story? The moment to tell it,and to heal, is now.”
