A clinical psychologist, Mr Ayo Ajeigbe of Minds Haven, has implored Nigerians to always seek support whenever they feel psychologically down, instead of keeping to themselves and feeling that there is no help in sight.
In an exclusive chat with Blueprint in Abuja Thursday, Ajeigbe advised for people to always take more interest in their neighbours; in order to recommend psychological evaluation and help in curbing the rising case of suicide witnessed across the country.
He said: “Today being the works mental health day with a very sensitive theme not just to the world, but in Nigeria: looking at what we have been through. It’s high time we all got mentally aware and learn more about how to help others around us and ourselves too. I’m the one going through it today, it may be you tomorrow. Some think it can never happen to them. However, it’s high time for us to start looking out for the signals.
“People may have any of the following thoughts, including: the pain seems overwhelming and unbearable, you feel hopeless, like there is no point in living, you are consumed by negative and disturbing thoughts, you cannot imagine any solution to your problems or clueless other than suicide, you’re imagining death as a relief and you think everyone would be better off without you.”
Furthermore, he said: “Again, you may feel very lonely even when you have friends and family, you do not understand why you are feeling or thinking this way, you feel or have been engaging in reckless behaviours, your mood changes often without a recognisable cause, you have this rage and anger towards yourself or others.
“If you have any if these feeling and wandering what to do, please kindly reach out to professionals or search for Minds Haven to talk to a doctor or a mental health professional. You can also join a self-help or support group for people with lived experience of self-harm or similar thoughts. The baseline is we all should take care of ourselves without neglecting or infringing on the mental health of those around us, because doing that is as well as doing it to ourselves.”
