Th e Chief Consultant and head of behavioural medicine, Karu General Hospital, Daramola Tayo, has disclosed that loss of interest in sexual activities could be a sign of depression. Tayo, who disclosed this recently in Abuja, at a health talk on depression organised by the public health department, health and human services secretariat, FCTA, said that an estimated nine million Nigerians may be suff ering from depression. He described depression as a mental disorder resulting from long-lasting low mood aff ecting one’s ability to do things, to have pleasure or have interest in activities one used to enjoy. He said: “It also refl ects on the loss of interest in sexual activities among others.
“Th e prevalence has been put between fi ve and 10 per cent with an estimated fi gure of 180 million populations, we actually have nine million people suff ering from the burden of depression. Tayo, who noted that though individuals might periodically undergo ups and downs due to loss of loved ones among other challenges, such conditions or situations could not necessarily be attributed to depression. He explained that for depression to occur, mental disorder must have persisted for two weeks.
Th e expert identifi ed other symptoms that could be exhibited by patients suff ering from depression as feeling guilty, weight loss, hopelessness and worthlessness, loss of confi dence, which could result in the thought of self-harm or attempting suicide. Tayo noted that “other causes of depression are trauma, life circumstances, chronic and severe illness, hormones, lifestyle, among others.” Th e Chief Consultant further noted that the 2008 World Health Organisation (WHO) report stipulated that by 2030, depression would be the highest cause of death globally. He said: “In view of the high prevalence in Nigeria and the worldwide fi gure, there is the urgent need for governments, individuals to redouble eff orts in fi ghting the scourge to reduce its mortality rate.
