Amidst the economic hardship, a Consultant Neuro-psychiatrist, Dr Maymunah Kadiri, has underscored the need for Nigerians to prioritize habit of mental health assessment at least twice a year to ensure their mental well-being.
Kadiri, who is the Medical Director, Pinnacle Medical Services, Lagos, gave the assertion in an interview on Thursday in Lagos.
She decried the poor attitude of the public toward their mental health, noting that majority of Nigerians perceived mental health assessment/evaluation as only meant for mentally challenged persons.
She said that every individual, irrespective of status, background, tribe, or religion is expected to access such services at least twice a year.
“Every human irrespective of class faces one societal ill or the other, stress and other current economic challenges that can affect the way they reason or interact.
“Such challenges are predisposing factors to depression, and anxiety and can lead to suicide if not properly checked.
“People should consider going for mental health evaluations regularly; just like they do for physical check-ups.
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“For a start, individuals can aim for at least twice a year, but in cases where one is experiencing significant stress, life changes or symptoms of mental health issues, it is important to seek evaluation sooner.
“Additionally, if there is already a history of mental health concerns or a family history of mental illness, more frequent evaluations would be beneficial,” she said.
The Neuro-psychiatrist emphasised the need for individuals to be mindful of their mental health; listen to their bodies and minds, and seek help whenever they feel overwhelmed or notice changes in their mental well-being.
Kadiri, who explained that our mental health can be affected by happenings around us, urged Nigerians to prioritise the habit of mental health assessment as much as their physical health, as our mental health goes a long way in determining how we handle daily life events.
According to her, in the same way that we go for physical examinations regularly to monitor our blood pressure, blood sugar and other physical health metrics, we should also be attentive to our mental health.
“Our ability to manage and process the events of our everyday lives is significantly influenced by our mental health.
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“Take David, a young adult living in Lagos, as an example.
“David’s work and family obligations, which include his parents and own family as he got married a year ago and has a son who will be one year old soon; have been making him feel more anxious and overburdened.
“His mood and concentration at work suffered as a result of his frequent inability to handle the pressure, coupled with the ever-increasing cost of living.
“His sleep cycle has also been affected; as all that occupies his mind is how he can go about finding more sources of income to take care of his family.
“He paid no attention to his wary mental state, and it got to the point where he found himself being withdrawn, getting easily irritated and losing interest in activities he previously enjoyed, like playing tennis every Saturday morning.
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“This is one case out of many that shows how our mental health can be affected by happenings around us.
“So, it is very important to do a mental health evaluation at least twice a year to flush out every negative thing that affects us in our workplaces, homes, the company we keep and things we see,” she said.
She, therefore, urged the public to make time to visit a psychiatrist or psychologist at least twice a year to ensure they are mentally stable.
NAN
