Through this collaboration, Heritage Gardens will work closely with school leaders, counsellors and students to set up and support Mental Health Clubs in selected secondary schools. The clubs give young people a safe space to talk about feelings, learn coping skills and lead awareness activities for their peers.
The partnership will initially focus on schools in Apapa and surrounding areas, with plans to extend to other parts of Lagos as the programme grows.
Empowering students as mental health champions
Rather than delivering one-off talks, Mental Health Clubs meet regularly and are led by students with support from trained staff. Activities might include discussion circles, creative projects, assemblies or campaigns to reduce stigma around seeking help.
“Young people often turn to each other first,” explains a member of the Heritage Gardens team. “By equipping students with accurate information and supportive skills, we help schools build a stronger culture of care.”
Next steps
In the coming months we will:
- Select pilot schools and meet with leadership teams.
- Deliver training sessions for staff who will coordinate the clubs.
- Support students to design activities that reflect the needs of their peers.
We are grateful to our partners for sharing our commitment to young people’s mental health. Together, we are creating spaces in schools where it is normal to talk about how you feel.
