Depression and mental illnesses are real. KEHINDE OSASONA captures the recent sensitisation and awareness drives by NGOs and stakeholders to Bayelsa and Rivers states.
Background
Depression, also known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a serious health disorder characterised by persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness and loss of interest in activities. It can affect a person’s mood, motivation and ability to function in daily life.
Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
Globally, one in every 19-year-olds is said to be experiencing a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group, while suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds.
In 2019, a survey on mental health in Nigeria by Africa Polling Institute (API) and EpiAFRIC shows how awareness of mental health is low in Nigeria with most respondents aware that they have mental health disorder, and recognised it.
Significantly, Africa has the youngest population in the world with over 60% of its population below the age of 25. This demographic dividend, according to experts, present a significant opportunity for economic growth and development, as it is believed that a youthful workforce can drive productivity, innovation and entrepreneurship.
In Nigeria today, finding by Blueprint indicates that the burden for mental health disorder is very high with limited access to available and affordable mental health services in the country.
But while addressing the challenges as part of its resolve to bridge the gap and intensify campaign in the country, a team of stakeholders came up with a programme, a collaborative efforts by professors from the Universities of Ibadan, Harvard and Leicester and another research team from the Universities of Pretoria South Africa, Nottingham and Dalhousie University in Canada.
Prof Linda Theron of the University of Pretoria was the lead researcher on the project while Dr Zainab Mai-Bornu from University of Leicester, who doubles as the Nigeria Project lead was also joined by staunch academic researchers Prof Olufunmilayo Fawole and Prof Lanre from University of Ibadan.
The research is supported by the Wellcome Trust in United Kingdom with the aim of understanding the unique challenges faced by NEET youth in this region and sought to identify resilience-enablers that could mitigate the risk of depression among this demographic.
The Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI) alongside Dr Zainab-led Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) as community of partners together carried out the sensitisation, advocacy programme aimed at creating awarenesss and educating critical key stakeholders in the region.
Why Niger Delta?
The Niger Delta region in Nigeria and South Africa were identified as places where the prevalence of depression among those who find themselves outside education, employment, or training are domiciled.
The researchers noted that the move became necessary as a way of delving into the pressing concern and explore effective strategies to protect and support vulnerable individuals against the debilitating effects of depression.
The week long visit and recruitment exercise in the South-south region of Rivers and Bayelsa states saw youths embracing the project implementation process via trained volunteers, meeting local partners and the inaugurations.
At the training of the volunteers put together by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), its executive directors, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Dr Zainab and the Nigeria’s project coordinator volunteers were unveiled.
Among other functions, they are to serve as recruiters of male and female youths between the ages of 18-24, male and female who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
There was also another session, where sensitisation of volunteers who are recruiters of NEET youths on the platform of the Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI) took place. Organised by Abbah Zion, the volunteer participants were trained on what the international collaborative project was all about, ways of selecting, nominating and recruiting the NEET youths in terms of criteria as well as the ethical standards to be observed throughout the recruitment process to avoid any form of compromise on the integrity of the research project.
During the exercise, the recruitment volunteers were told that the project would be recruiting a total of 600 youths who are NEET in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
As the training was progressing, the interactive and participatory training session offered the volunteer recruiters an opportunity to ask the speaker/trainer on how to verify youths who fall within the age bracket of 18 to 24 including the alternative types of documents that they should use to verify the age of the NEET youths without birth certificates.
There were also questions and answers fora, where Dr Zainab addressed participants’ concerns and prepared them ahead on how to carry out the assignment, the project responsibilities and how to recruit the NEET youths through a free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).
The inauguration
On Tuesday, May 8 2024, it was inauguration time for Youth Advisory Council (YAC) members from both Rivers and Bayelsa who converged in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
At the end of the exercise, (10) YAC members comprising four females and six males between the ages of 18 and 24 were selected, nominated, and trained by Dr Zainab with contributions from the executive director of Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface and Abbah Zion of the MHEI.
Explaining the roles of YAC, Abbah Zion said the youths were given the opportunity, through a free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) to decide if they are interested in serving on Youth Advisory Council members on the research project.
“They accepted to serve on the project as YAC members and were given the necessary document to sign signifying their sign-on to the project and all 10 of them were eventually inaugurated into the council,” Abah Zion stated further.
The courtesy/advocacy visits
As part of the awareness campaign, the activities were followed up with a visit to the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and traditional rulers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa states.
The visit which was the first on any leadership organisation was also the first awareness creation activity that the five YAC members from Bayelsa participated in after their training and inauguration in Port Harcourt on May 7, 2024.
Abba Zion, while explaining said, “The outing was used to create awareness about the project and introduce the YAC members with a view to letting members of the larger society know more about the project and ask less questions when they see or hear about the volunteers carrying out the recruitment of youths who are NEET in the communities.”
Also on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 after their training at Ayalla Hotel in Yenagoa, the YAC members and volunteer recruiters proceeded on a courtesy visit on His Eminence, King Dumaro Charles Owaba, Obenobhan 111, King of Ogbia Kingdom, and the second vice chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council in his palace in Yenagoa.
The visit which the YAC members and a cross section of the volunteer recruiters also participated in was to create more awareness about the project to the traditional institution in the state.
Not only that, it was also staged to inform the traditional institutions about the international collaboration and seek their support and cooperation including awareness creation among their subjects ahead of the visits of the volunteer recruiters to communities in the state and how to identify and recruit youths who are NEET.
Speaking at the event, Dr Zainab introduced the project to the traditional ruler and his council members.
The duo of Mr Fyneface of YEAC-Nigeria and Abbah Zion while commenting harped further, reiterating focus on mental health in relation to the project in the recruitment of the youths who are NEET.
In his response, the traditional ruler thanked Dr Zainab and her team for the visit and pledged support for the project by way of helping to create awareness among the subjects.
While it lasted, King Omaro, King Collins Daniel Ebi, Obanobhan of Abureni Clan, King N.D.Amakuro, Obanobhan of Emeyal Clan, King Dogood Omiloli,Obanobhan of Oloibiri Clan, Dr.Aziba-alaguo Seibofa, national chairman of Ogbia Brotherhood Worldwide, and Dr (Barr.) Iboroma Ikuli, secretary general of the Ogbia Brotherhood were visited.
Others who were in attendance were Barr Dan, Lumumber, member, Executive Committee, Ogbia Brotherhood, Barr A.E.Omiloli, palace legal adviser, HRH Osene David Osene,Ogbolo X1,Obenema of Elebele Town, Chief Okpu, Augustine Naru, palace chief of staff, Mr Micah Romson, palace protocol, Mr Benjamin Okosia and palace press secretary, Elder Teinfieyo Koromo Eze.
During the visit to the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) by the members of Rivers state volunteer recruiters and YAC members on May 9, 2024, they were hosted by some youths under the auspices of National Youth Council of Nigeria.
According to Abba Zion, the visit was to create awareness about the project as part of stakeholder consultations and seek collaboration with the youth as major stakeholders for more sensitisation about the research project.
At the palace of King of Ogale in Eleme Kingdom, Eleme local government area of Rivers state, King Bebe Okpabi, the team was received by the chief of Ogale, Chief Ake Oluka on behalf of the king who was unavoidably absent.
“The visit afforded the partner organisations, volunteer recruiters and youth advisor council members the opportunity to brief and sensitise the Eleme kingdom about the project through their traditional rulers in the traditional institution.” Abbah said.
Responding, the chief which consisted of High chief Joshua Awala, Chief Barr. Johnson Prince Ngochindo, Chief Promise Nnanta Obe kwa, Pastor Blessing Entire and Comrade Noble Obari Nwolu, the youth president all thanked the team for the visit assuring that their doors are open for partnership in support of the project aimed at protecting African youth against depression.
Implications for policy and practice
The implications of the research extend beyond academia with significant implications for policy and practice.
“Informed by our findings, we will be advocating to the executive, legislative, Judiciary and non state actors, for the development and implementation of holistic interventions that address the intersecting challenges faced by NEET youth in the Niger Delta region, especially the mental health ACT 2021, adoption and operationalisation across Niger Delta and other Nigerian states.
“Specifically, we call for collaborations between government’s health institutions, the media, NGOs, youth councils and organizations, traditional and religious leaders, community-based organisations to recruitment of youth participants and implementing multisystemic resilience-building initiatives all through the life cycle of the study and afterwards.”
Finally, experts are of the views that African youth are central to the continent’s growth and development trajectory, having represented a demographic dividend that if harnessed effectively, can propel the continent towards a prosperous and sustainable future.
However, it would not be out of place to realise that their potential requires concerted efforts to invest in their education, skills, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, leadership, and increased access to mental well-being, thereby unlocking their full potential as drivers of change and catalysts for progress.
Going forward, governments at all levels are expected to work collaboratively with stakeholders and advocacy actors to translate findings into tangible actions that promote the mental well-being and resilience of NEET youth in the Niger Delta region and beyond.