Founded in 2019, Mental Care Foundation (MCF) is one of Nigeria’s leading mental health organisations dedicated to building better lives for millions of Nigerians affected by mental illness. Our organization owns and runs FITILA – Nigeria’s premier on-demand emotional health service that anonymously and securely connects individuals to real listener in one-on-one live chat.
MCF educates thousand of communities across Nigeria through
MCF awareness events and MCF campus clubs
to ensure that individuals get the information and support that they need to successfully fight stigma and
encourage understanding.
We work with volunteers in Nigeria to lead campaigns on national public policy
for people with mental illness.
December 26th of 2018, a Facebook friend took her own life and that incidence changed my opinion about mental health - from just being curious about mental health to becoming an advocate.
– Balikis Abubakar, Co-founder and Executive Director, MCF
Psychiatrists have linked the rising prevalence of mental health disorders in Nigeria particularly to stigma
and lack of public awareness. In Nigeria, people who attempt suicide are being arrested rather than being treated.
Many Nigerians still believe that mental illnesses like depression and schizophrenia are demonic and cant happen to
“holy people”.
People can’t talk freely about their mental health because of the fear of being stigmatized.
Even teens are expected to shake it off and what we see is more and more people take their lives.
Transform the understanding of mental illness through awareness programs and technology-centered solutions that pave way for prevention, recovery, and a safe space for all.
MCF envisions a Nigeria in which mental illness is prevented, cured, and given attention at a national scale, to eventually kill the stigma, and promote mental wellness.
