By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has ignited a wave of mental health conversations online after sharing a heartfelt message encouraging people to speak up and seek help rather than suffer in silence.
In a post shared to her over 16 million Instagram followers, Akindele urged her fans and the wider public to break the silence surrounding emotional and psychological struggles, stating that “silence can be deadly, but words can save.”
“Let them say you’re oversharing! Let them think you talk too much! But speak up!” she wrote. “Because when you’re alive, there’s solution. You are stronger than you think. You are braver than you feel. You are loved more than you know. Speak up, stay alive!!”
The message, tagged with hashtags such as #SuicideNotTheOption and #NoToSuicide, has resonated strongly with fans and fellow celebrities alike, including actress Nancy Isime, who liked the post.
Thousands of followers engaged with the post, many sharing their personal experiences or expressing gratitude for the message.
One commenter wrote, “Sharing is healing. If you don’t speak up, how will people know what you’re dealing with inside?”
Another added, “You are the only one that can help yourself heal — starting by talking about it.”
Akindele’s post comes at a time when mental health issues, including depression and suicide, remain prevalent but under-discussed topics in Nigerian society.
Cultural stigma, limited access to professional help, and the fear of judgment often discourage individuals from seeking support.