Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) is a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness on mental health and illnesses as well as working to connect service users to mental health professionals. MANI was founded and registered in Nigeria in December 2015 with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC/IT NO 83725), but was officially launched on the 11th of June 2016 by a team of young doctors and concerned individuals led by Dr. Victor Ugo.
Online, MANI has successfully adopted and developed various social media techniques and strategies to shine the light and draw public attention to mental health. In the second half of 2016 several online chats and pictures messages were hosted on Twitter and displayed on Instagram and Facebook with the organization’s official handle with the use of highly relevant hashtags.
MANI currently maintains an organizational presence through their primary online channels: a website, a blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages as well as employs the use of offline media channels, such as TV and radio. One of their main services offered is the suicide/distress hotline, which serves to provide suicide intervention as well as mental health first aid to callers; all of whom are subsequently referred to appropriate quarters for specialized care.
So far the online campaigns have experienced remarkable success as MANI, since mid 2016, has grown its community base to more than 500 young people spread across the country and even the world, with a social media following of more than 20,000 followers; which has even only increased the potency of the campaigns so far, both online and offline.
People that use MANI’s services include but are not limited to individuals coping with mental illness, family members of service users, as well as individuals who feel some concern for their mental state (after all, everyone does have a mental health). Potential users include those in the area where MANI hopes to expand its hotline and awareness services to. MANI is uniquely positioned as the largest and most active organization that offers a specialized community where no one is discriminated for their illness and where people can speak up freely.
Our most unique selling point is the community of acceptance we provide as well as the opportunity for people to tell their stories without fear of stigma.
