Joyce Onwuka
Asido Foundation, a prominent mental health advocacy organisation committed to fostering mental well-being in Nigeria, has been honoured with the Innovative Research, Training, or Practice in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) Award at the esteemed 6th Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) Awards 2024, held recently in the United Kingdom.
The ACAMH Awards, hosted by the UK-based global mental health charity and professional body, celebrate exceptional contributions to child and adolescent mental health worldwide.
In this year’s Innovative Research, Training, or Practice in LMICs Award category, Asido Foundation and the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India, emerged as joint winners. Asido Foundation was recognised for its groundbreaking, multi-layered approach to mental health education and service delivery, which has made a significant difference across Nigerian communities.
According to Dr. Soumitra Datta, International Officer at ACAMH, “Dr. Jibril and Asido Foundation have achieved remarkable success in promoting mental health literacy and well-being, particularly among children and adolescents in Nigeria. Asido Foundation has taken on the immense challenge of addressing stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental health through advocacy and direct intervention.
The innovative and impactful strategies implemented by Asido Foundation offer a replicable model with demonstrated impact, setting a new benchmark in youth mental health advocacy.”
Over the past five years, Asido Foundation has led impactful initiatives that continue to shape the landscape of mental health in Nigeria. Milestones include successful advocacy for the Mental Health Bill, passed into law in 2023, training over 600 individuals in Psychological First Aid (PFA), and over 200 community engagements, reaching more than 300,000 people.
The Foundation’s multi-layered approach includes initiatives like the student-led Asido Campus Network, the annual Adolescent Bootcamp for Mental Health, and the Asido Kids Challenge, all of which target different age groups and needs across the youth demographic. The impact of other landmark programmes, such as the “Unashamed Campaign” and Project Hope, which actively drive awareness and support for mental health across Nigeria, were contributing factors to the Foundation winning the Award.
Accepting the award, Dr. Jibril Abdumalik, CEO and Founder of Asido Foundation, expressed his gratitude, saying, “This is a truly special honour and privilege. We recognise that our greatest challenges are ignorance, shame, and stigma which stand as barriers that prevent people from seeking help. Many young people suffer in silence, hidden away due to these misconceptions. Our mission is to break down these barriers so children and adolescents can access the care they need without shame or stigma. We view this recognition as a call to action, and we are deeply committed to doing even more in the future to support mental health in our communities.”
This latest accolade from ACAMH also highlights Asido Foundation’s commitment to making a tangible, lasting impact on mental health in Nigeria. With a growing network of advocates and expanding programmes, Asido Foundation is poised to transform the mental health landscape in Nigeria. Future initiatives will focus on integrating mental health into primary healthcare systems to make psychological support more accessible, especially in rural and underserved areas, as well as focusing on women’s mental health needs.
Mr. Meka Niyi Olowola, Chairman of Asido Foundation, speaking on behalf of the Board of Trustees, expressed his delight at the global recognition of Asido Foundation’s work, “Being recognised by ACAMH, a globally respected organisation, is a tremendous honour and a testament to our dedication to mental health advocacy in Nigeria. This award reinforces our vision to dismantle stigma, empower communities, and expand access to mental health resources for children and adolescents. It represents a crucial milestone in our journey toward a mentally resilient society.”
