Dear All,
In
our centre we welcome this editorial by The Guardian – it is good that such a
powerful member of the media should devote an Editorial to the ‘cancer’ of
suicide plaguing our country.
The
editorial covered useful grounds of what may help stem the tide, from the
personal to family and religious houses and civil society. But in our view it
missed out quite a few major actions that Nigeria as a country needs to take
right away: Pass the Mental Health Bill into law; establish a community focused
mental health service anchored on the primary health care level which is nearer
to the places where citizens live and work and play and socialize for the
country like was started in Cross River state in 2004 (following in the
footsteps of the Late doyen of Psychiatry in Nigeria Late Professor T A Lambo;
establish a social safety net for Nigerians ( social security) that guarantees
the few basic essentials for all citizens – shelter, food, health and pocket
money. The news of suicide that we have heard recently gives the wrong
impression that those affected come from the middle classes, because we really
never hear of the very poor who take their lives in the villages, nooks and
cranies of our country. Such a mental health service would need time to set up
but as the Chinese say, the journey of a thousand miles start with the fiurst
step- Nigeria can make a start now by the National Assembly (NASS) passing the
Mental Health Bill and Mr President signing it into Law. That Bill has been in
the NASS for almost 12 years, we are told.
WE
agree with The Guardian that we should ‘be our brothers keeper’ but to think
that we can recreate the old loved ‘African society’ is wishful thinking – the
21st century Africa is too different from that nostalgic society where up to
five or more generations of a family lived together with the elders bringing up
the children who grow up to take care of the elderly is far gone. Nigeria and
indeed Africa must look to adjust to realities of today’s society of upwardly
mobile and emigrating populations.
Getting
the Mental Health Bill passed will be a very good start to establishing
promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative mental health service for
Nigeria that can help to curb the rate of suicides:
It
is very unfortunate, even heart-breaking, that more Nigerians are taking the
sad and tragic route of suicide or attempts at it out of their problems. The
suicide case of Dr. Alwell Orji made headlines and the whole nation has been
left heart-broken. In broad daylight, he alighted from a chauffeur-driven car
on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos and took a deadly plunge into the lagoon.
His body was retrieved from the depths of the lagoon days after. There were two
other reported cases during the period. An undergraduate final-year student
decided to end it all at Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomosho, Oyo State by
hanging himself. A businesswoman in Lagos took a plunge into the same Lagos
lagoon but was promptly rescued by men of the Nigeria Police. She complained
that she was hugely in debts after being swindled by a bureau de change
operator and wanted to end her life to avoid shame. The psychiatric hospitals
across the country have also reported an upsurge in the number of persons
presenting themselves for treatment .
Indeed,
experts say that there are millions of people who have one form of mental disorder
or another without knowing it. The figure given by World Health Organisation
(WHO) is frightening. Over 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
Some men who subject their spouses to routine physical or verbal abuse may be
suffering from a form of mental disorder. Also, some persons who have a
permanent gloomy outlook on life or who easily give in to violence may need
psychiatric help. Persons who are unduly anxious may also be on the way to
depression. Mental disorder can also manifest as anti-social behaviour like
avoiding groups, friendly exchanges, family, friends and fellow employees.
A
suicidal act is a cry for help on the part of the victim. For most, it comes
too late. It is often the end-stage of depression. Some persons who have gone
through tough challenges or crisis and who feel that there is no hope or no
need to continue in life seek to terminate their lives abruptly. They succumb
to months or years of feeling worthless or unwelcome. Often their loved ones
miss all the signals of despondency. When some loved ones see the signals they
are often helpless, so enmeshed in their own problems that they hardly have the
time and resources to confront the problems of others. It is true that some
mentally ill mask their pain and frustrations, appearing cheerful to people but
dying gradually within.
One
of the ways suicide cases can be minimised is through education and social
security. Traditionally in African countries, depression which manifests in
different forms is treated as a curse or the result of trafficking with
spirits. The truth is that mental depression is not an attack from witches or
‘evil forces.’ Depression is like any other illness; its only difference is
that it attacks the mind. Victims are hardly in control of their thoughts and
actions. It is not a taboo. It is not the result of evil actions. It is a case
of the mind weakening and getting distorted when assailed by severe or deadly
incidents.
Families
which have mentally-depressed patients or persons should show more love for
their kin. It is stressful looking after a loved-one who suffers from mental
disorder. Social support and expert advice as well as help are crucial in
handling mental cases. Once a person shows such symptoms, he should be promptly
taken to a psychiatric home for evaluation and treatment. While treatment is on
in the hospital, the patient needs social and family support. After being
discharged from hospital, that support is more crucial. Always, patients need
to be urged or reminded and monitored to take their medication. Tying up such
persons and giving them the harsh treatment does not help. It simply aggravates
the problem.
The
tradition of being our brothers’ keepers for which the typical African was
known appears to have been whittled down by the pressures of modern life. In
times of distress, whether in form of illness or loss of job or material
things, each person needs to stand by his or her brothers and sisters. Such
support provided by family and friends help distressed persons to overcome trauma.
Anyone can suffer a breakdown. Thresholds may differ. But anybody can become a
victim of mental ill-health.
Another
problem which mental health victims suffer is stigmatisation. People tend to
stigmatise persons who have suffered a mental breakdown or some peculiar
ailment. Employers also do. Such persons also suffer discrimination sometimes
within a family. It is worse in the social environment. The fact is that with
proper medical attention, a mentally-ill person can function effectively and
live a normal life. Marriage and the support of close persons help persons with
mental health challenges to carry on in life.
In
these hard times, there is need to stress hope as a reason to live. To have
hope, all need to have faith, ‘the substance of things hoped for.’ With faith
and hope, people are unlikely to degenerate into despondency. Hope should be
reaffirmed and preached whenever the opportunity offers itself. Therefore, the
churches and mosques have a role to play in this. Out of the ashes of defeat, so
many people have emerged to clinch success and victory in life. A temporary
loss does not translate into total failure in life. Parents are obliged to
bring up their children stressing the positive always. They should, however,
educate kids on how to cope with life’s challenges.
The
Federal, state and local governments as well as non-governmental organisations
have a role to play as well. Help lines should be established nationwide. Such
bodies should educate the public in order to create awareness about this
incipient condition. Post-treatment facilities should also be established so
that institutions can provide a framework for recuperating persons who lack
sufficient family support.
However,
once a feeling of sadness or gloom continues, one must seek professional help
immediately. Psychologists and psychiatrists trained to handle such disorders
can help to control and lift the individual out of the condition. A man who had
attempted suicide once is more likely to try it again except effective
treatment takes place. The abhorrence of psychiatric help is the result of
ignorance. If depression is left unchecked for a long time it could result in
suicidal thoughts or suicide. People need to be educated that if they do not
feel right either mentally or physically, they should seek professional help.’’
Joseph Ana
Africa Center for Clin Gov Research & Patient Safety
@ HRI West Africa Group - HRI WA
Consultants in Clinical Governance Implementation
Publisher: Health and Medical Journals
8 Amaku Street Housing Estate, Calabar
Cross River State, Nigeria
Phone No. +234 (0) 8063600642
Visit Website: www.hriwestafrica.com
E-mail: hriwestafrica@gmail.com
Joseph Ana
Africa Center for Clin Gov Research & Patient Safety
@ HRI West Africa Group - HRI WA
Consultants in Clinical Governance Implementation
Publisher: Health and Medical Journals
8 Amaku Street Housing Estate, Calabar
Cross River State, Nigeria
Phone No. +234 (0) 8063600642
Visit Website: www.hriwestafrica.com
E-mail: hriwestafrica@gmail.com
Hey!! Thanks for the post. Mental health disorder like depression really ruin your life completely.
ReplyDeleteI know this because I gonna through this horrible state of mind. To overcome the depression I searched for the best Counsellor in Chiswick. Finally, I get rid of it. Hey! you have shared really a great post.