A non-governmental organisation and the Niger Delta Youth Council’s Health Circle Concept Initiative have sensitised about 200 Niger Delta youths to mental health.

The event titled “Mental health summit 2024,” was executed in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission in Asaba, Delta.

Its main theme was “Breaking the silence: Uniting for mental wellness.’’

The NDDC Chairman and Chairman of the event, Chiedu Ebie, in his remarks, said that it was apt to sensitise the people, particularly the youth to mental health to encourage healthy living in society.

Mr Ebie, represented by his senior aide, Dr Godwin Edozie, said that mental health issues were a global challenge, hence the urgent need to sensitise the people to enable them to lead healthy lives.

He said, “It is a global issue and it is a thing of praise that the NDDC considered it necessary to start sensitising people to their own mental health and mental wellness.”

He noted that both external and internal factors were responsible for mental health challenges, and advised people to regularly visit their doctors to check their health status.

“Today, many people are overworking themselves. They cannot rest. So, the idea of this seminar and enlightenment is for us to take life easy, take enough rest and survive stress and stressors,” Mr Ebie said.

On his part, the Convener and National Chairman, NDYC Worldwide, Jator Abido, lauded the Managing Director, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, and Mr Ebie, for supporting the programme.

He said that there was a need for the people, particularly the youth, to take care of their health given the economic, social, environmental, biological, psychological factors affecting people of the region.

According to Mr Abido, addressing these challenges with comprehensive and multi-faceted solutions will shore up mental health of young people and foster a healthier, more resilient future generation

Mr Abido added, “Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Good mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence, through adulthood. The main concepts of mental health include emotional well-being, psychological well-being and social well-being.”

He said that social factors include the quality of relationships, social support networks, cultural influences, discrimination and societal stigma related to mental health issues.

He stated, “Lifestyle factors encompass diet, physical activity, substance use, sleep patterns and overall self-care practices, all of which can impact mental well-being. Mental health issues among youths in Africa can be influenced by various factors unique to the region.’’

On his part, a member of the Board of Trustees, NDYC Worldwide, Beke Apere, said that the issue of mental health was a global challenge.

He advised people to speak out on their challenges and not bottle them up, to keep off stress, depression and other stressors that cause mental health problems.

He stated, “Again, because of depression, some people opt for drugs, but when they get addicted to it, it can lead to mental health disorder. This programme is geared towards sensitising and educating the youth to avoid depression and shun drug abuse to stay mentally healthy.’’

The lead Speaker, Dr Sarah Uwa, who spoke on mental wellness, said that mental health disorder was a challenge such as hypertension, among other health challenges.

According to her, mental health is a state of mental wellbeing which enables a person to cope with life and stressors, learn and impact the environment.

She noted that persons could become mentally unwell due to various stressors which include social, biological and lifestyle among others.

She, however, said that there was a misconception by people who do not see mental health disorder as sickness.

She stated, “Mental health disorder is just like any other chronic sickness such as hypertension, diabetes or asthmatic disorder. Many people have mental disorders. It may not necessarily be outright madness like the mad persons on the street. Mental disorders can be mild or moderate. For the mild form, they can cope with life events. Other cases will need medication like people with other health challenges do, to keep them in a stable state to function optimally.

She added that mental disorder was not something to stigmatise against.

(NAN)