ASABA — World Mental Health Day provided the National Association of Seadogs, Vito Corsica Deck, an opportunity to move beyond symbolism into direct community action.
The Deck sponsored a special session on Trend 100.9 FM featuring Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Enebe Anthony, who reminded audiences that distress is not weakness and that early recognition of symptoms — low mood, social withdrawal, sleep changes, or more dramatic signs such as hallucinations — can prevent escalation. He stressed that mild conditions frequently respond to support and lifestyle measures, while severe ones demand specialist attention, and he called on families and workplaces to create spaces where people can speak without fear of stigma.
The most practical element of the Deck’s programme followed the broadcast. A free virtual mental health clinic recorded 25 call-ins, 14 from men and 11 from women. The consultations covered depression, substance abuse, anxiety and one case of learning disability. Every caller received counselling and a referral for continued clinic review.
In a country where psychiatric services are scarce and out-of-pocket costs high, the Deck’s decision to organise both the public discussion and the subsequent clinic supplied immediate assistance that many participants would otherwise have struggled to obtain.
Dr. Anthony’s broader message — that governments must embed mental health considerations in social and economic policy, and that individuals should protect sleep, exercise and genuine human connection — was reinforced by the Deck’s visible organisational effort. The Vito Corsica Deck’s intervention thus illustrated how a civic group can amplify expert voices while simultaneously delivering care, offering a replicable contribution to Nigeria’s mental health response.