WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY - IT IS OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY*_*OZIOMACHI*

 *WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY - IT IS OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY*_*OZIOMACHI*

Every 10th of October, the world pauses to reflect on an invisible but very real crisis that touches every family and every community: our mental health. World Mental Health Day is not merely a date on the calendar; it is a global call to action, a solemn reminder that health is never complete without mental health.

For too long as a society, we have paid keen attention to the body while neglecting the mind. We rush to treat malaria and typhoid, yet we hide anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress under the cloak of "spiritual attack" or dismiss it as weakness. In doing so, we allow pain to fester in silence.

The truth is that many people are struggling quietly. There is the student overwhelmed by academic pressure, the young graduate battling unemployment, the mother carrying the entire burden of the home, the father who feels he has failed to provide, the businessman whose business has collapsed, and there are our widows and widowers who carry the heavy, often unseen burden of grief, loneliness and sudden responsibility after losing a life partner. Many smile in public but break down in private.

This year's observance reminds us of fundamental truths. First, mental health is real. Depression is not pretence. Anxiety is not overthinking. Trauma is not drama, and grief is not just crying. These are medical and emotional realities that require care, empathy, and professional support, not judgment or stigma.

Second, it is okay not to be okay. True strength is not found in pretending that all is well, but in finding the courage to speak up. For our widows and widowers, strength also lies in admitting that loneliness hurts and that life after loss is profoundly difficult. Seeking help is not shameful; it is an act of courage.

Third, we all have a role to play in healing our society. We must learn to be kind, to listen more, and to judge less. We must check on our strong friends and deliberately remember our widows and widowers by visiting them, listening to them, and supporting them emotionally and not just financially. We must create safe spaces in our homes, schools, churches, and communities where people can share their struggles without fear of being stigmatized.

As a people, we must break the culture of silence. We must teach our children emotional intelligence, embrace our grieving widows and widowers with love and understanding, encourage counselling, and support one another genuinely.

As the legislator representing Bende North State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, I recognize that this is not just a social issue but a governance issue. I am committed to championing laws and policies that promote access to mental health care, strengthen social protection for widows and widowers, and build community-based support systems that leave no one behind. Mental health must remain a legislative priority because there can be no real development without healthy minds.

On this World Mental Health Day, let us hold fast to this truth: there is no health without mental health. Let us take care of our minds and take care of one another, for you matter and your mind matters, including the minds of our widows and widowers.

I salute the resilient people of Bende North Constituency, Ndi Abia, and all Nigerians. Together, let us build a healthier, kinder, and more compassionate nation.

*Hon. Ibekwe Nnamdi Chimdi (OziomaChi) FIMC., FNIS., FCIMS*

Member, Abia State House of Assembly

Bende North State Constituency