Esta Richard Etim’s Story
Smart-Fit Trybe, Nigeria
I am a Mental Health Educator, Lifestyle Fitness Consultant, and Arts-in-Health Practitioner (Dance), and the Founder of Smart-Fit Trybe in Nigeria; a community platform supporting women and young people in their mental and emotional wellbeing.
My journey into global mental health advocacy did not begin in a hospital or policy space. It began in rooms filled with women who came for fitness but stayed to talk about stress, exhaustion, anxiety, and the emotional weight they were carrying. Over time, I realized that many of the women I worked with were not struggling with discipline or motivation, they were overwhelmed, burned out, and silently battling mental health challenges they did not have language for.
Through movement-based sessions, guided reflection, and mental health education, I saw how safe spaces and practical tools could help women reconnect with themselves. That experience deepened my commitment to prevention, emotional literacy, and community-based support systems.
Today, my advocacy focuses on making mental health support accessible, culturally relevant, and integrated into everyday spaces where women already feel safe not only in clinical settings.
Please share your reflections on what you've learned and you would like to share with our global community.
One of the most important things I have learned is that mental health is deeply connected to daily life. In Nigeria, many women carry economic pressure, caregiving responsibilities, and strong cultural expectations, often without emotional support. These realities must be acknowledged in policy and programming.
I have also learned that prevention is powerful. When women are given simple tools to understand stress, regulate their emotions, rest without guilt, and build supportive networks, we reduce the likelihood of crisis later. Prevention is not secondary work, it is foundational work.
Another key lesson is that stigma does not always look loud. Sometimes it looks like silence. Many women normalize burnout and emotional pain as strength. Advocacy must therefore help people recognize that seeking support is not weakness.
Finally, meaningful change must include grassroots voices. Community leaders, peer supporters, and local initiatives are not peripheral to the system, they are part of the system. Sustainable mental health reform must value and resource them.
What has been your favourite moment as a member of GMHAN?
My favourite moment has been realizing that I am not alone in this work. Hearing perspectives from different countries, yet recognizing shared struggles around stigma, funding, and access has been deeply affirming.
The Action Network has shown me that global advocacy and local action can strengthen each other. It has expanded my thinking while still honoring the realities of the communities I serve.
Stories can change lives. Share your story with our network and inspire action