Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri is a consultant Neuro Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist. In this interview with Kemi Ajumobi, she sheds light on the importance of mental health and the upsurge in depression rates in recent times among others. Excerpts.
Ongoing projects
Currently, we are on a year campaign to schools, corporate organisations, religious organisations and various communities to create mental health advocacy by our NGO, Pinnacle Medicals Speakout Initiative. This is aligned with the World Health Organisation’s one year campaign that commenced since October; 2016. The theme is ‘Depression, Let’s Talk’.We have carried this out in 3 major cities, Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt. We have more states to cover before the year runs out. Likewise, we have visited several schools, corporate organisations, religious bodies, among others. We want to use this opportunity to encourage government bodies to collaborate with us in this advocacy programs for various communities. We also plan to take this outside the shores of the country.
Movie project for mental health awareness
We decided to produce our first feature film in January this year after our short movie on alcohol and other substance abuse we premiered last year called ‘Peppersoup’. The movie had a very successful outcome. Our latest movie is aligned with the theme of the World Health Day for the year, ‘Depression, Let’s Talk’. When we went into production in January, we never envisaged there will be major challenges regarding the mental health of Nigerians as we are noticing of recent with the increase incidence of suicide. So, for us, this movie, the movie ‘Little drops of happy’, is timely and it is to depict this society menace which we hope to premiere very soon. It’s a 105mins long film showcasing the lives of people going through depression, post partum depression and suicide. We decided to bring entertainment into our campaign because it’s one of the ways information can reach everyone without losing the message of what we are advocating for.
We decided to produce our first feature film in January this year after our short movie on alcohol and other substance abuse we premiered last year called ‘Peppersoup’. The movie had a very successful outcome. Our latest movie is aligned with the theme of the World Health Day for the year, ‘Depression, Let’s Talk’. When we went into production in January, we never envisaged there will be major challenges regarding the mental health of Nigerians as we are noticing of recent with the increase incidence of suicide. So, for us, this movie, the movie ‘Little drops of happy’, is timely and it is to depict this society menace which we hope to premiere very soon. It’s a 105mins long film showcasing the lives of people going through depression, post partum depression and suicide. We decided to bring entertainment into our campaign because it’s one of the ways information can reach everyone without losing the message of what we are advocating for.
Upsurge of depression rates and way out
Depression affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. It causes mental anguish and impacts on people’s ability to carry out even the simplest everyday tasks, with sometimes devastating consequences for relationships with family and friends and the ability to earn a living. At worst, depression can lead to suicide, now the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year olds. When mild, people can be treated without medicines but when depression is moderate or severe they may need medication and professional talking treatments. The risk of becoming depressed is increased by poverty, unemployment, life events such as the death of a loved one or a relationship break-up, financial challenges, physical illness and problems caused by alcohol and drug use.
Although there are known, effective treatments for depression, fewer than half of those affected in the world (in many countries, fewer than 10%) receive such treatments. Barriers to effective care include a lack of resources, lack of trained health care providers, and social stigma associated with mental disorders. Another barrier to effective care is inaccurate assessment. In countries of all income levels, people who are depressed are often not correctly diagnosed, and others who do not have the disorder are too often misdiagnosed and prescribed antidepressants.
Do we have to await disaster before proactive measures are taken?
It’s unfortunate that we have to wait for a disaster before we take proactive measures to curb a situation. Suicide has been in existence in Nigeria, it just wasn’t this magnified. It’s because a doctor that Nigerians believe should know better was involved that this brought out the many crisis we are facing. After that incidence, we are having the werther effect or copycat suicide every now and then. Suicide prevention needs proper coordination and collaboration to ensure effective outcomes.
Managing schedule
Being a Psychiatrist doesn’t mean I don’t have my challenges. The best way out is how you manage them which can either break or make you and I have decided they make me by developing a healthy support system, delegating duties, outsourcing areas that aren’t my core strength and de-cluttering my mind when the need arises…this is often for my sanity because the stories I sometimes hear, what I see in my practice, experiences I encounter in my course of carrying out my duties as a Physician can be mind bugging. I will personally say that people should develop a work-life integration or harmony; this has proven to be effective leading to productive people, for a sane society. We actually all need a shrink, not because you are emotionally unstable, but to prevent a mental breakdown. After all, prevention is better than cure.
Adequate measures need in Nigeria to attend to the growing rate of suicidal trends and tendencies
We do not have this yet as a nation but we are a work in progress. We have 1 Psychiatrist to 1 million Nigerians, likewise for other mental health professionals. Coordination and collaboration from the local, state and national levels will go a long way. All these must start from you as an individual that makes up the society. Talking about mental health and mental illnesses is a movement. We have to talk about it to encourage help seeking behaviour for individuals that need help, know what we can do if we need help ourselves, how to help others in need and where, when, who and how to get this help.
What to look out for
Major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder rarely appear “out of the blue.” Most often family, friends, teachers or individuals themselves begin to recognize small changes or a feeling that “something is not quite right” about their thinking, feelings or behaviour before one of these illnesses appears in its full-blown form. One half of all mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% begins by age 24. Determinants of mental health and mental disorders include not only individual attributes such as the ability to manage one’s thoughts, emotions, behaviours and interactions with others, but also social, cultural, economic, political and environmental factors such as national policies, social protection, living standards, working conditions, and community social supports. Exposure to adversity at a young age is an established preventable risk factor for mental disorders.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
