Young, Bold, and Determined: Flourish Alonge is Tackling Mental Health Stigma in Nigeria

Changemaker’s Journey  

Flourish Alonge is a passionate mental health advocate from Ekiti State, Nigeria. Her journey began not with advocacy, but with personal pain. While living in Lagos, she silently battled anorexia nervosa—an eating disorder defined by an intense fear of gaining weight, which led her to restrict her food intake severely. This struggle with body image gradually affected her self-esteem and spiraled into depression. Yet, in her environment, mental health remained a taboo subject, shrouded in cultural stigma and misunderstanding.  

When she moved to Ekiti for school, her mental health worsened. It was her first time living away from home, and the transition triggered deeper feelings of isolation and despair. Her turning point came when she made a friend who not only recognised her symptoms but also had a deep understanding of mental health. This friend introduced her to books, films, and conversations that helped Flourish begin to understand her experiences in a new light. It was through this awakening that she joined a mental health fellowship in 2021, eager to learn more and use her story to support others.  

These life-shaping encounters planted the seed for Global Insight, Mental Health Initiative. Flourish created this platform to bridge the gap between ignorance and access to mental health support. She believes three key factors contribute to the lack of mental health education: misinformation, stigma, and cultural orientation. Her story ignited her passion to educate, advocate, and provide young people with tools and resources to care for their mental well-being.  

A major challenge she and her team encountered when establishing her initiative was limited access to practical resources on mental health. This challenge drove them to conduct in-depth online research and curate valuable content in various formats, including visuals and written materials, to connect with young people via social media.  

Flourish also advocates for the improved training of future medical practitioners, focusing on mental health care, who are passionate about mental health well-being and dedicated to providing high-quality care regardless of a person’s socio-economic background.  

What began as a personal struggle has blossomed into a powerful movement, bridging the gap between ignorance and awareness in mental health across Nigeria. Ignorance about mental health once left Flourish Alonge in the dark, but now, through education and empowerment, she is lighting the way for others.  

The Initiative  

Global Insight Mental Health Initiative’s vision is to empower young people with the knowledge, self-care techniques, and healthy habits needed to maintain mental well-being. The initiative seeks to create a safe space for young people to discuss and gain insight into mental health through virtual and in-person engagements, which includes social media campaigns, webinars, and school outreaches.  

Impact

Since its founding in September 2023, Global Insights has educated over 700 participants through a mix of virtual and physical outreaches. A standout event, Be Kind to Your Mind, held at Petoa City College, had an impressive turnout of over 400 students and made a significant impact in raising awareness.  

Future Aspirations

Flourish envisions expanding Global Insights to reach more states across Nigeria and even gain international recognition to maximise its impact. She aims to partner with reputable mental health organisations like MyTherapist.Ng, with the goal of not only educating young people about mental health but also connecting them with organisations that can provide real-time support.  

Through these efforts, Flourish hopes to enhance young people's access to relevant mental health resources and ensure quality care for those living with mental health challenges.  

Everyone a Changemaker  

“In the coming years, the present young people will be adults. What we need to do now is make Nigeria a better place for us to live in when we become adults; and we need changemakers to do that. People who can identify a problem in their society and do something about it,” Flourish says.