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Hauwa Ojeifo, a mental health coach and advocate for women, is dedicated to overcoming the worldwide stigma around mental illness.
Hauwa runs a women’s support group called She Writes Woman, which provides support and outreach for the most vulnerable people in her community: those living with mental illness and depression. She observed that suicide rates in her country were ever on the rise. So she set up the country’s first 24-hour mental health helpline. It has since assisted hundreds of women — and men — who suffer depression, suicidal thoughts, and more.
Hauwa, a Queens Young Leaders 2018 award recipient, also operates ‘Safe Places’ — free monthly support groups for women run by counsellors, coaches, and physicians. These sessions provide therapy as well as love and hope. In addition, Huawa organizes trips to psychiatric hospitals to offer ‘Hope Visits’ to patients who have not received visitors for a long time.
Hauwa’s greatest goal is to normalize the conversation about mental illness. While supporting people in need full time, she is actively working to raise awareness of the presence and prevalence of mental illness as a mean to creating an environment in Nigeria where mental illness is not just managed, but prevented.
Who’s Your #HistoryHero?
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