Maymunah Kadiri, the celebrity shrink creating awareness on psychological and mental health

While in the studio, we couldn’t believe our ears, a caller calls in on my radio show when my ‘date’ for this week was my guest. From her voice, we knew something was wrong, she was crying and we could literarily feel her frisson “I need to talk to someone urgently!, someone please help me!!, I need to talk to someone now!!!” the caller says. I reminisce and clearly remember how bothered we were… a day I am not quick to forget, her voice still rings in my head till date. I remember how disturbed my ‘date’ for this week was, how we did our best to reach the caller, the unstable signal from the network providers didn’t make things easier…what a day it was.
If you call her a ‘celebrity shrink’, you are correct but in addition, she is an award winning physician and a Fellow of the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPsych),  a Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist with over 10 years experience in practice.

She is gracefully armed with the 10Ps…..Pretty, Physician, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Practitioner, Publisher, Professor in the making, Productive, People oriented and Passionate about God and life.
The amiable Medical Director of Pinnacle Medical Services, a health and wellness centre dealing on psychological, behavioural, and mental health related issues. That’s not all; she is also a Goldman Sachs Scholar on entrepreneurial management, with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan Atlantic University and a graduate of the China European International Business School, CEIBS on Entrepreneurial Management. Maymunah Kadiri is my ‘date’ for this week.

Maymunah is a trained and certified rational emotive and cognitive behavioural therapist from Albert Ellis Institute, New York, USA., a certified trauma counselor, sexual and reproductive health expert, occupational health and safety physician and neurofeedback practitioner. Talk about an expert trainer on stress and stress management for individuals and organizations then Kadiri is all yours.

Maymunah is the founder of a non for profit organization, “SPEAKOUT INITIATIVE” which is geared towards creating awareness on psychological and mental health related problems in Nigeria and beyond.
Growing up for Maymunah was “great fun” as she describes it to me and she continues “Imagine growing up in a house filled with wives and many children, including extended family members.  With this analysis, I need not to be reminded that survival is the only option I have and there is no alternative. I’m born a Muslim, and still a practicing Muslim.  With a large household like mine, you can imagine what a child like me will learn. I love this film ‘Slum dog millionaire’, though I had a more pleasant upbringing, but when it comes to sitting on any hot seat, believe me, some of my childhood experiences have made me shine like a star. I’m so grateful to all that helped in shaping my future as of today. GOD bless them, living and non-living.” Kadiri says.

I asked Maymunah if Psychiatry was what she wanted to study and her response said it all. In her words, “I have always wanted to be a doctor who will deal with anything connecting to the brain, not exactly Psychiatry. In my high school days, I thought of forensic medicine and Neuro-surgery, still not Psychiatry. Maybe, I didn’t know the exact name then. Even while in the medical school, it was still not clear to me. This became clearer during our Psychiatry posting which is usually 4-6 weeks. After this, I said yes, this is it! The truth is, it was a very short posting, but for me, it was what I needed at that time aside the interesting nature.”

“When I then told my family about doing my residency in Psychiatry, it was a huge war! My dad had a family meeting. He tried all he could do to convince me in accepting other areas of specialty such as maternal and child health. He even went to the extent of telling me there is no mad person in our family, etc. I’m glad today that not only him, but a large number of my family members are ‘Psychiatrists by Association’ and strong advocates of mental health home and abroad. To me, that is a great motivation to continue.  Psychiatry or generally, mental health is the medicine of the past, present and future. It’s all about your biology which writes your biography.” She narrates.

A Psychiatrist or Shrink is primarily a physician who has attended a medical school. After graduation, the person goes for housemanship for a year and then serves the Nation for another year known as NYSC “Kemi, let’s count, that’s 8 years or more with ASUU strikes. Then to be a Psychiatrist, you have to go through another rigorous training for 4-6 years, depending on many factors. This training humbles you my dear sister. With this, we are hitting 12-14 years or more, this is what it takes to be a Consultant in Nigeria, though it differs from country to country.  Some people do ask, what’s the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist? The differences are clear, a 6 year  versus  a 4year course and most importantly, a Psychiatrist can be a psychologist (with a masters in clinical psychology, which some of us have), but a Psychologist cannot be a Psychiatrist, unless the person has been to medical school.” Kadiri tutors.
With every job comes its challenges, hear Maymunah share hers “The challenges cannot be over-emphasised. In a country like Nigeria where stigma against people living with mental illnesses is still very high, the first step to change is creating awareness. Aside stigma, the poor state of healthcare in Nigeria is not encouraging. Of recent, the doctors have been on strike and the easiest way out by Federal Government of Nigeria is to issue a circular about terminating residency programme in Nigeria. To me, this is not the way out of our decaying health care system. For example, Psychiatrists in Nigeria are very few. We have 1 Psychiatrist to 1,000,000 Nigerians; this is far from the recommended W.H.O standard. With no one telling us the truth, we are all aware of the increasing psychological trauma Nigerians are experiencing, from lack of basic infrastructure, corruption, kidnapping, unemployment, suicide bombing and now, Ebola!”

“As for overcoming the challenges, especially the issue of stigma, this has to be curbed for a healthier and sane society. This will also enable those affected to seek for help on time, from the right people and right places. Furthermore, it helps to reduce the burden of care and improve the quality of lives of the families of people living with mental illnesses.” She admonishes.

If there is a particular fear tormenting Nigerians today, it is the fear of Ebola. Hear Kadiri’s stance on this “Nigerians are going through psychological trauma with the arrival of this disease, and it is very unfortunate. This is what happens to a Nation that waits for the rains before seeking for umbrella. Ebola has been in existence since 1976, but from February this year, it has been all over the news about the outbreak in Liberia, Sierra lone and as the most populous country in Africa, it was just a matter of time for the bomb to explode. Now, that we are already having 4 deaths and over 189 cases monitored, what’s next? I hope Nigerians will stop being ignorant and face reality. Rather than seeking for the right information on the Ebola disease, some are business undergoing ‘mass initiation’ from the rumoured salt and water campaign. The fear of Ebola is already causing some people anxiety and can be worse if not checked. Like I said,
personal hygiene is key and knowing the facts about the disease. Let’s spread peace, not panic.” she warns.

On the attitude of the Federal government on the issue of Ebola, Maymunah has this to say “Public awareness is still going on, but it is not enough. Maybe, the first person with the disease arrived in Lagos, so for now, Lagos state is the only state on top of the game fighting the war against Ebola. Other states are gradually gathering themselves against the fight.  A lot of unhygienic practices are still obtainable in our homes, offices, etc. All radio, TV stations should dedicate time for Ebola campaign in the major Nigerian languages. The print media shouldn’t be left out. This will go a long way from preventing a serious outbreak. For now, I’m happy all schools (public, private, etc) as announced by the FGN will not open until further notice. This must go on until we get it right. We mustn’t allow our children to be a part of this disaster.” She passionately speaks.

Maymunah is all over the airwaves, advocating for the importance of mental health. Hear her tell you how she’s doing this “Whether it’s hypertension or depression, people need support and help. Robin Williams’s tragic death has cast a much-needed spotlight on issues of depression, suicide and mental health. He was happily sad until his demise. How many Nigerian celebrities can boldly come out to declare their health status, not to mention mental health? With this huge burden, I’m on various TV platforms creating awareness on the psychological, emotional, behavioural and mental well-being of Nigeria for Nigerians home and aboard. Regularly on NTA, but have been on Channels, TVC, Ebony Life TV, among others. The next step is to start a TV and RADIO programme that will create the much needed avenue for people to ask questions and get instant solutions with the right information and proper referral to where they can get the right treatment using empathic communication with our audience. Sponsorship is a challenge, but I believe, a helper will come soon.”

“Also, there are the various social media platforms I use in creating awareness on mental health. For example, the blackberry messenger has been a good platform. With over 2,000 contacts and counting, a daily broadcast is sent on the various mental health issues. For this week, the issue of post partum depression is on, the feedback comments and questions I get are very intriguing. Nigerians need information, and whichever way this can be done….Let’s keep it going! The twitter has also been a great source of creating awareness on mental health, #MentalHealthMatters”. She says.

If you have ever taken mental health likely, Maymunah has this advice for you “The reasons mental health problems develop are complex. Studies in Nigeria have revealed prevalence rates of about 20-28percent for diagnosable psychiatric conditions in the general population. This means that there are, at least, 25 million people who would benefit from mental health services in Nigeria. The cost of untreated mental illness to the Nigerian economy is estimated to run into billions of naira every year. Stigma remains a serious problem, with many cases of human rights violations, such as, chaining or beating, experienced by people with mental illness. As Nigerians, we should be aware that 1 out of every 4 of us will develop mental health problem in his life time. So, we need to take our health, not only mental health seriously.” she advises.

Have you seen someone who has been previously mentally challenged, try to integrate himself or herself back into the society? It is indeed a challenge and according to Maymunah, “This is one of the myths of mental health disorders. Studies show that most people with mental illnesses get better, and many recover completely. Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. For some individuals, recovery is the ability to live a fulfilling and productive life. For others, recovery implies the reduction or complete remission of symptoms. Science has shown that having hope plays an integral role in an individual’s recovery. Another common myth is that mental illnesses are brought on by a weakness of character.”

“The fact is mental illnesses are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Research has shown genetic and biological factors are associated with schizophrenia, depression, and alcoholism. Social influences, such as loss of a loved one or a job, can also contribute to the development of various disorders. For example, with the recent crisis here and there in Nigeria, some people may have nervous breakdown because they are not able to cope. It’s important to recognize that mental illnesses range from mild to the very severe form. We have a number of people doing well and giving back to the Nigerian society as of today without you knowing they are either on medication(s) or have recovered. With the reduction in stigma or complete elimination, more people will be willing to accept their health condition and deal with it appropriately.” she quips.

Pinnacle Medical Services Limited offers computerized neuro-cognitive assessment, stress management, Psychotherapy, substance and drug abuse counseling and management, child and adolescent mental and behavioural health, Employee Assistance and Counseling Programme (EACP) Biofeedback, Neurofeedback and peak performance training.  They also offer trainings in addiction counselling, trauma counselling, health promotion and wellness including effective communication in the work place.

“I chose this line of business because it is my area of professional training and practice and for the passion I have for mental health. Now Kemi, please be bold to announce my name to your family and friends as your ‘SHRINK!’. You may not need me, but someone may do. Let’s join hands to promote and advocate for mental health.Remember, Health is wealth and there is NO health without mental health! I remain committed to your psychological and holistic well being.” She concludes.