During the fourth edition of the Vanguard Mental Health Summit held on Friday, Dr Veronica Nyamali, a consultant psychiatrist and president of the [Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Psychiatrists_of_Nigeria), commended [Vanguard Media Limited](https://www.vanguardngr.com) for its sustained advocacy, public enlightenment and responsible coverage of mental‑health issues across the country.
Nyamali emphasized that mental health gives individuals meaning, purpose and direction, and argued that promotion of wellbeing must extend beyond clinical treatment to include continuous public education and awareness campaigns.
She noted that Vanguard’s long‑standing engagement with mental‑health professionals has created platforms where Nigerians can learn about conditions, treatment options and the latest developments in the field.
"Through its activities, Vanguard creates valuable opportunities to educate the Nigerian public by bringing together relevant stakeholders and experts to address important and contemporary mental health issues," Nyamali said.
**What makes the summit the pinnacle of these efforts?**
Nyamali described the annual [Vanguard Mental Health Summit](https://www.vanguardngr.com/mental-health-summit) as the climax of the newspaper’s advocacy, a gathering that stakeholders and the public anticipate each year to hear updates on emerging and ongoing mental‑health challenges in Nigeria.
According to her, the summit enables experts to spotlight pressing challenges and to discuss practical solutions, while also fostering collaboration among psychiatrists, psychologists, policymakers, advocates and community members.
Nyamali praised Vanguard for delivering balanced coverage, ensuring that critical topics receive attention and that no aspect of the mental‑health discourse is overlooked.
She concluded that the media can play a pivotal role in improving public understanding, reducing stigma and correcting misconceptions about mental‑health conditions, and that Vanguard deserves formal recognition for its outstanding contribution to mental‑health awareness in Nigeria.