The Retreat Hospital: Survivors share mental health recovery stories, tackle stigma

…Listen to those with lived experience – Dr Olufemi Olutayo
By Chioma Obinna

Powerful stories of addiction, relapse, workplace discrimination and recovery took centre stage at The Retreat Healthcare Facility, Ikorodu, as mental health survivors called for greater understanding, acceptance and support for people living with mental health conditions.

The facility marked World Mental Health Day with a recovery-focused programme themed: “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” bringing together inpatients, outpatients, caregivers and healthcare professionals for an honest conversation about mental health and the realities of recovery.

The event attracted participants both physically and virtually via Zoom, providing a platform for people with lived experience to share their journeys and challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance use disorders.

At the heart of the programme were personal accounts from people who had battled addiction, managed bipolar disorder and endured discrimination after seeking mental healthcare.

A survivor, who began rehabilitation in September 2024, recounted how addiction had taken a toll on his finances, wellbeing and personal aspirations before he committed to recovery. Now pursuing his goals abroad, he reflected on the opportunity recovery had restored to his life.

His experience highlighted the importance of commitment, structured rehabilitation and taking recovery one day at a time.

Another participant, a civil servant living with a mental health condition, disclosed how workplace discrimination following her treatment and discharge contributed to a six-month interruption in her medication and a subsequent relapse that required a month-long readmission.

She has since maintained regular outpatient appointments, changed her workplace environment and continued her recovery.

She commended the supportive, non-judgmental care she received at The Retreat and urged others to remain consistent with prescribed treatment and follow-up appointments.

The stories underscored the human cost of stigma and the need for workplaces and communities to become safer, more supportive environments for people living with mental health conditions.

Recovery begins with the decision to seek help

A mental health professional who has lived experience of substance use also shared how childhood trauma and a difficult family environment contributed to his early exposure to drugs.

Having maintained sobriety since 2022, he now draws on his personal experience to support patients struggling to accept treatment.

He said seeking help is a critical first step towards recovery, while rehabilitation can help people develop the insight and skills needed for lasting change.

A young adult who has experienced several hospital admissions while managing bipolar disorder also spoke about the relationship between substance use and relapse, drawing lessons from addiction therapy and the 12-step approach.

He urged young people to avoid the trap of comparing their lives with others on social media, stressing the importance of self-awareness, personal values, structure and commitment to individual recovery goals.

The voluntary testimonies formed the core of what organisers described as the Real Voices Session, facilitated through a structured, peer-led storytelling approach by the Circle Coordinator of the Horse’s Mouth Support Group.

Listen to those with lived experiences – Dr Olufemi Oluwatayo

In his opening address, The Retreat’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Olufemi Oluwatayo, highlighted the significance of World Mental Health Day and the need to move beyond clinical definitions of mental illness by listening directly to those affected.

The programme was convened under the leadership of Dr Oluwatayo and the facility’s Executive Medical Director, Dr Olawale Lagundoye, alongside Facility Manager, Matron Ayannike Ojo, and a multidisciplinary team of consultant psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, mental health social workers, addiction recovery experts and other staff.

Delivered in partnership with the Horse’s Mouth Support Group, the event established ground rules centred on confidentiality, respectful listening, safety and freedom from judgment.

Following the testimonies, participants engaged in a facilitated circle dialogue to reflect on the lessons shared. Inpatients, outpatients joining online and staff discussed how personal experiences could help challenge stereotypes and improve mental healthcare.

Members of the clinical team offered reflections on coping strategies, hope and recovery capital, linking professional insights to the experiences narrated by the participants. Online outpatients also contributed actively through the Zoom chat.

Beyond treatment: The fight against stigma

The accounts revealed how discrimination, substance use, interrupted treatment and social pressures can complicate recovery, while also demonstrating the role of supportive care, self-awareness and sustained follow-up in helping people rebuild their lives.

For The Retreat, the programme was a reminder that mental healthcare must extend beyond diagnosis and medication to include dignity, empathy, social support and the voices of those receiving care.

The event ended with a collective commitment to listening more attentively, reducing stigma and placing lived experience at the centre of mental health services.