THE EKO WELLNESS FAIR | My Mental Health Matters

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oyotoday
May 2, 2021
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PRESS RELEASE

THE EKO WELLNESS FAIR | My Mental Health Matters

The events of 2020 to date have tested our physical immunity, mental resilience and faith in ways we still do not fully comprehend.

And although Nigerians and Africans at large are not falling physically as predicted by international health indices, we are falling mentally.

The incidents of mental health crisis are rapidly and steadily rising amongst all demographicsin our country, particularly among the working class. This should come as no surprise; before the pandemic, Nigeria was a challenging country to live in.

According to a 2017 World Health Organization report, one in four Nigerians, that’sapproximately 50 million people, were already suffering from some sort of mental health disorder.

This alarming for us as a nation that is at a point where we must chart a way to a more stable future, how can we achieve sustainable progress with a mentally stressed workforce?.

This is why the theme for the 6th edition of the Eko Wellness Fair is “My Mental Health Matters: For Our Collective Prosperity”. The fair is part of the Lagos State Mental Health month of May by the State Ministry of Health and will hold virtually from the 1st of May to the 7th of May on all our easily accessible social media handles @ Ekowellnessfair.

Mental health disorders are still largely surrounded in mystery, shame and stigma in Nigeria and all these enforce the lack of understanding prevalent in our society and so people suffer alone in silence. The Eko Wellness network is engaging this conversation and problem in its most creative and vibrant fair yet.

We have partnered with various organizations, such as the Society of Performing Arts Nigeria ( SPAN), Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium (GET Africa) , Suicide Research Prevention Initiative (SURPIN) , Arts In Medicine, Association of Organic Agriculture Practioners of Nigeria (NOAN), African Institute of Mind, Africa Film Academy ( curators of the Africa Movie Academy Awards) and Flutterwave, to bring to the Nigerian public this carefully curated week focused on demystifying Mental health and equipping Nigerians with tools that will support and improve our Mental wellbeing .

In a statement by Oyin Talabi a Holistic Wellness Coach and the Project Manager of The Eko Wellness Fair, “every element of the fair has been socially and culturally adapted for the average Nigerian. There is something for everyone to engage with, learn and benefit from. The fair includes workshops by high-level Nigerian Psychotherapists and Holistic Wellness Practioners, cooking demonstrations of healthier food alternatives, art and therapy stimulations and online shopping of healthy foods and lifestyle products by proudly Nigerian businesses

The virtual event is also proudly endorsed by the Lagos State Safety Commission and and supported the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture who recognize the role of domestic tourism and the Arts in enhancing our sense of wellbeing. The Africa Film Awards the curators of the AMA-Awards also joined the conversation by challenging budding film makers to depict mental health in a more authentic light by conducting a short film contest. The 7 top films will be screened each day of the fair.

The Eko Wellness fair started as a healthy food fair in March 2017 with 10 participating brands. We have since grown into an annual community event that connects over 100 holistic practitioners and wellness product providers domiciled in Nigeria with the Nigerian public. For the 2021 edition, we have over 50 facilitators and participating wellness brands.

The mission of the Eko Wellness Network is to make the Nigerian wellness ecosystem more accessible to the public. We believe that the best way to a sustainable healthcare system ispreventive living which we encourage through proactive living by making healthier food and lifestyle choices.

To participate in this Free to attend fair, please visit our website at www.ekowellness.net to register. The sessions will also be streamed live from our website and our social media pages so follow us now on Facebook and Youtube pages @ekowellnessfair.