The Kaduna State Government has flagged off a school-based mental health initiative under the Kaduna Children Amplified Prevention System (Kd-CHAMPS). The programme is part of the state’s strategy to tackle mental health challenges and substance abuse among children and adolescents. The initiative focuses on early intervention and replaces traditional awareness campaigns with a structured, evidence-based system aimed at building resilience and equipping young people with life skills before mental health issues or substance use begin.
Speaking at the flag-off, SUBEB chairman Mubarak Muhammed described the initiative as a turning point for the state’s education sector. “For too long, mental health and substance abuse issues have been addressed in fragments. What Kd-CHAMPS offers is a coordinated, home-grown solution rooted in evidence and collaboration,” he said.
He added that the programme reflects how government institutions can align resources and expertise to address complex social challenges. The urgency of the programme is reinforced by findings from a state technical committee led by child and adolescent psychiatrist Aisha Abubakar-Abdullateef. According to the research, one in seven children in Kaduna experiences mental health distress, while half of all mental health conditions begin by the age of 14. To address this, Kaduna has adapted the World Health Organisation Mental Health in Schools framework—becoming one of the first in Africa to localise the model.