We All Need Healing

Title: We All Need Healing: Emerging Pathways to Healing from Trauma and Mental Health Experiences.

Authors: Dr Idiongo Usen Smith, Dr Fola Rogers-Saliu, and Mrs. Grace Alexander-Abimbola.

Foreword by: Prof. Akindotun Merino, PhD.

Year of publication: 2025

Book Reviewer: Juwe Oluwafemi

In a society where mental health is often misunderstood, silenced, or stigmatised, We All Need Healing: Emerging Pathways to Healing from Trauma and Mental Health Experiences arrives as a timely and important contribution. Co-authored by Dr. Idiongo Usen Smith, Dr. Fola Rogers-Saliu and Mrs. Grace Alexander-Abimbola, the book explores what it truly means to heal in an age of increasing emotional strain and collective anxiety.

At first glance, the title feels simple and familiar, yet its message is profound. The authors remind readers that healing is a universal need, one that cuts across age, class, faith, and geography. Whether the wounds stem from personal trauma, social instability, or everyday stress, the authors argue that recovery begins with acknowledgement and understanding.

In recent years, Nigeria and much of the world have seen rising cases of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related illnesses. Yet, public discourse on mental health remains limited, often distorted by cultural misconceptions. Against this backdrop, We All Need Healing seeks to bridge the gap between science and everyday human experience.

The book’s strength lies in its simplicity and honesty. Without sensationalism, the authors confront difficult topics: grief, trauma, mental breakdown, and emotional fatigue, while offering empathy and practical insight. They approach mental health not as a clinical issue alone, but as a shared human condition that demands compassion and conversation.

The book, divided into 16 chapters across three sections, offers readers both clarity and direction.

Section A: Making Meaning of Mental Health and Trauma defines mental health in practical terms, clarifying what it is and what it is not. Drawing from the World Health Organisation’s holistic definition, the authors describe mental health as more than the absence of illness, it is the ability to live well, learn, work, and contribute meaningfully to community life.

Section B: Pathways to Mental Health and Healing opens an inclusive conversation about different healing traditions.

Readers encounter a wide range of methods: from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and psychodynamic work to alternative therapies such as yoga, art, and acupuncture. Faith and spirituality are treated with thoughtful respect, portrayed as lifelines for many people seeking meaning and restoration.

Section C: The Healing Process: You Have a Role to Play turns the spotlight inward. Here, the authors emphasise creativity, self-care, nutrition, and grounding techniques as daily tools for sustaining healing. The message is clear: recovery is not merely about symptom relief; it is about reclaiming wholeness.

A Collaboration of Expertise and Experience

Part of what gives ‘We All Need Healing’ its authenticity is the diversity of its authorship.

•Dr. Idiongo Usen Smith, a Clinical Social Worker, brings professional clarity to complex psychological ideas.

•Dr. Fola Rogers-Saliu, a Counseling Psychologist and Trauma Recovery Specialist connects theory to practice through relatable examples.

•Mrs. Grace Alexander-Abimbola, a Disability Advocate, Trauma-Informed Care Specialist contributes a voice rooted in lived experience and compassion.

Together, they achieve a rare blend of academic rigour, cultural relevance, and emotional accessibility.

Beyond its professional appeal, the book holds strong social value. It speaks directly to families, faith communities, and workplaces, spaces where mental health conversations are often suppressed. The authors challenge readers to rethink how they view pain, resilience, and vulnerability, arguing that a healthier society must first acknowledge its collective trauma.

In a nation where economic hardship, insecurity, and social dislocation leave deep emotional scars, We All Need Healing serves as both mirror and manual. It urges individuals to stop glorifying endurance and start embracing restoration. The message is clear: healing is not a privilege. It is a necessity.

The language of the book is simple, deliberate, and devoid of jargons. The authors write with warmth, empathy, and authority. The prose is accessible to both professionals and general readers, making it suitable for counsellors, teachers, religious leaders, and anyone seeking to understand mental health better.

Each chapter is layered with wisdom drawn from science, spirituality, and social experience. The writers avoid the trap of oversimplification while maintaining a tone that invites reflection rather than fear.

We All Need Healing is more than a self-help guide. It is a social document for our time. It combines scholarship with empathy and grounds the global conversation on trauma and recovery in a distinctly African context.

The book blends professional insight with lived experiences. The authors have produced a book that is both educational and emotionally enriching. It is a valuable addition to the growing body of literature promoting mental wellness and a reminder that personal healing and social progress are deeply connected.

As people who are still learning to talk about mental health without shame, this book provides the language, context, and hope we need. It is not only informative but transformative. The book serves as a mirror, a compass, and a manual for our collective restoration.