THMC 3.0 Promotes Trauma Awareness, Power of Shared Stories

The third edition of The Mental Health Conference (TMHC), organised by leading psychiatrist and mental health advocate, Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, fondly known as The Celebrity Shrink, brought together professionals from medicine, law, business, media, and the arts for a day of reflection, healing, and policy dialogue at the Alliance Française, Ikoyi.

Themed: “Trauma: What’s Your Story?” with a subtheme “Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace.” The conference highlighted how trauma shapes individuals, workplaces, and societies, and underscored the urgent need for trauma-informed policies in Nigeria.

In her opening address, Kadiri set the tone for a day of candid conversations. Speaking with calm conviction, she urged participants to see trauma not as a weakness but as a source of wisdom and strength. “We are here to turn our pain into power, our silence into story, and our stories into light,” she declared. She described trauma as an invisible weight many carry long after the world assumes they are fine, adding that “healing is not a destination, but a revolution of remembering.”

Tracing TMHC’s evolution from “Unveiling the Mind Behind the Mask” to “Identity: Who Are You?”, Kadiri said this year’s edition was a deeper journey into personal and collective resilience. “Your story may be stained, but it is not spoiled. Your pain is part of your past, not your permanent address,” she told attendees.

Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Medical Director and Consultant Neuropsychiatrist, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, announced plans to establish National Trauma Centres and psychosocial intervention units at the state level. He affirmed that mental health inclusion and trauma care are now integral to Nigeria’s public health priorities.
Former Nigerian Bar Association President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, delivered the second keynote, addressing trauma through the lenses of justice and governance.

He stated that insecurity, unemployment, and corruption amplify national trauma. “True justice must be restorative, not merely punitive,” he said, while commending the government’s commitment to decriminalising suicide by December 2025.

Speakers including 16Stories curator, Mr. Wale Ajiboye, and journalist, Ms. Stephanie Busari, shared personal reflections on trauma, resilience, and recovery. Dr. Olasimbo Davidson led a session on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), emphasising awareness as the first step toward healing.

Panel discussions explored trauma-informed workplaces and the link between mental, physical, and financial wellness. The event concluded with a soulful performance by music legend Yinka Davies, whose songs captured the spirit of collective healing.

TMHC 3.0 reaffirmed that healing is not a private act but a shared movement, one that turns pain into purpose and silence into strength.