TheNewsGuru

Tag: depression

  • Special Report: WHO75: Bridging the gap in access to mental health care

    Special Report: WHO75: Bridging the gap in access to mental health care

    In recent years, there has been increasing acknowledgement of the important role mental health plays in achieving global development goals, as evidenced by the inclusion of mental health in the Sustainable Development Goals.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) describes mental health as a “state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.

    Mental disorders and psychoactive substance-related disorders are highly prevalent throughout the world and are major contributors to morbidity, disability, and premature mortality.

    It often manifests as anxiety disorders, behavioural and emotional disorders in children, bipolar affective disorder, depression, dissociation and dissociative disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, paranoia, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis and schizophrenia.

    Any of these mental illnesses can affect a person’s thinking, perceptions, mood or behaviour and make it difficult for someone to cope with work, relationships and other demands.

    According to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), an estimated 14.3 per cent of deaths worldwide, or approximately 8 million deaths each year, are attributable to mental disorders.

    In Nigeria, a survey carried out by Africa Polling Institute and EpiAFRIC showed limited knowledge about mental health and a huge stigma associated with mental health disorders, which makes it difficult for most sufferers to get the help they need.

    “An estimated 20–30 per cent of the Nigerian population are believed to suffer from mental disorders. This finding corroborates with the 2006 WHO-AIMS report that claims that about 20 million Nigerians suffer from mental illness and a good number of them go without professional assistance,” the report said.

    Some of the reasons it gave for this high figure are economic hardship, negative environmental externalities, and the rising cost of decent living in the country.

    Similarly, a meeting of health experts during a two-day expo for Human Resource (HR) professionals which held in Lagos also identified stress as a trigger for mental illness and reiterated the need for employers to periodically access the psychological states and the stress level of their employees.

    Speaking on the topic, “Improving the health of the workplace: Focus on mental health,” the Principal Consultant at Winbox Consulting Deji Osesona, said HR managers were the intermediary between business owners, leadership and employees. He added that they are advocates for employees and business owners.

    “There is a need to introduce activities, including wellness campaigns, corporate or group work, team bonding to relax, physical exercise, speak out initiative, coaching cycle, mental health communication and wellness tips every week. These are results-oriented initiatives that could bring about efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace.

    “For those organisations without HR, it becomes the responsibility of the business owners to adopt these methods and keep pushing them until they get the desired results,” Osesona said.

    As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the WHO today April 7, it is hoped that Nigeria would allocate more resources to tackling the burden of mental health and reduce the psychological distress in which hundreds of thousands of children and parents live which impacts development.

    With exception of Kaduna and Sokoto, 34 other states failed to meet the 15 per cent adequate health funding benchmark between 2020 and 2022, according to a health report released by The ONE Campaign.

    “Far too many people who need help for mental health conditions do not receive it, yet mental health is integral to wholesome health and well-being,” WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said.

    He added: “The greatest challenge to adequate mental health service provision in Africa is the chronically low investments by governments.”

  • SUICIDE – By Francis Ewherido

    SUICIDE – By Francis Ewherido

    By Francis Ewherido

    There is a plethora of reasons why people commit suicide: economic hardship, heartbreak, loneliness, mental illness, depression, drug addiction, sexual abuse, bullying, verbal abuse and many others. From my personal observation, many of the recent cases of suicide in Nigeria were as a result of the economic hardship and youngsters who had issues with their lovers. The two most recent cases were the young man, who committed suicide because a girl dumped him, and a lady, who jumped into the lagoon from Third Mainland Bridge after a heated conversation with her fiancé. I do not know the details of the conversation. As a much younger person, committing suicide as a result of heartbreak never made sense to me. In fact, always I found it amusing. Suicide will never be acceptable to me as a Christian, but haven experienced heartbreak, I can empathise because I know what it is like to be heart broken.

    I was weeks away from my first traditional marriage when my relationship with my fiancée broke up. Introduction had earlier been done. Like marriage, no single person can make a relationship work. It takes the two people involved to sustain a relationship. Once one party wants out, the relationship is over. There is nothing the other party can do about it. I was like a mad man after we broke up. It was like my body was on fire. The pain was unbearable. I lost weight. Then it hit me that I could not bear the weight alone. I travelled to Warri, Delta State to meet my family. Once my mother saw me, she knew something was fundamentally wrong. I narrated everything to her. I could feel her agony. My elder brothers lent me shoulders to lean on. With the support of my family, I pulled through the heartbreak. Family support is very important.

    I have written articles on the need for strong family bonds and being in the life of your children. Family helps people to go through difficult situations. Family bond and being in the life of your children do not happen overnight. They are built over time. Something got me thinking some time ago. We (my wife and I) went to drop two of our children in school. Since they are first timers, we stayed back to help them with their registration, accommodation and settle down. While on it, they met their former school mate in secondary school. I always like doing small talks with my children’s friends to know a little about them. When he came to greet us, we asked about his parents. “Gone as usual. It has been like that since secondary school. I am used to it,” he said apparently pained. Shivers went down my spine. The parents are certainly not in the boy’s life. How can you drop a youngster with his pieces of luggage in the parking lot of a new school and zoom off. They feel picking the bills is enough, while the boy has a contrary view; he expects a lot more. I once told you how my friend went to pay the son’s school fees. He asked the son to remind him of the amount. “Dad, how am I supposed to know that?” he replied in astonishment. That is the mind set of many youngsters

    Young people do have boyfriends/girlfriends who jilt them at some point. They also get bullied and threatened. They have no experience and are not mentally ready to deal with these complex life situations. They need help, they need support and they need a shoulder to lean on? At such times which institution is more appropriate than the family? Protect your children from potential suicide because of heartbreaks and bullying by being in their lives. 

    The other major reasons for suicide in Nigeria, in my opinion, are the hard times. Times are very hard. There is no need deodorising it. Some men cannot meet their commitments anymore. Feeding the family is a big problem, keeping the children in school is a tough task, maintaining hitherto lifestyle has become virtually impossible. When the going gets tough, you have to be real before frustration drives you to suicide. You are the first bus stop. You lost your N30m PA job, let go of all non-important domestic staff. What are you still doing with a driver? Drive yourself and do school runs; change the school of your children to another one where the fees will not choke you. The fees do not necessarily reflect the quality of knowledge that schools impart. I mentioned jettison in an article previously. Practice jettison as we know it in marine insurance. Cut down your expenses to a manageable extent, so that you do not allow yourself to be driven to the point of committing suicide. When family and friends see the genuine efforts you are making to stay afloat, they will assist. But if you maintain your status quo, you are on your own. Nobody likes funding luxury. People just want to help you meet your basic needs. If you want to live a luxurious life, you must fund it yourself.

    Some people are sick and cannot afford the cost of treatment. Some are lucky because family and friends are supporting them in this difficult time. Some have no such support. They cannot bear to see themselves or/and their families suffer. They choose what they consider the easy way out: suicide. I used to call such people cowards, but I cannot anymore. I will rather advise them to fight to the end. Sometimes solutions come at the 11th hour when all hope is lost; the light might be at the end of the tunnel. I still maintain that suicide is not an option. For those whose relationship with their family is broken, repair it. The family ought to be your first port of call when you are in distress. If you do not have a “good” family, have reliable friends, be active in your town union or join a good club or society that takes the welfare of their members serious. The problem that some people have is that they were never there for family and friends. When in need, there is scarcely anyone from both family and amongst friends who wants to there for them. 

    Finally, let me end with the following pieces of advice. Even if you are a billionaire and you think you do not need anyone, I advise that you change your mind-set. You need your family and friends. Go ahead and mend fences. Where has one tree ever made a forest? If you are in a critical health condition or in coma, can you drive yourself to the hospital? Whom have you seen in this world that conducted his own burial? Even the most powerful in the world will ultimately be put six feet below by someone else. 

    Conversely, some people also that because they do not have money they cannot be there for others. Inability to know that you can be there for others is the real poverty. You can use your time and God given talents and skills to help others and make the world a better. Nobody is all in all; also, nobody is totally useless unless the person decides to be so. Above all, let God reign supreme in your life.

  • My babe served me breakfast at midnight – Omah Lay

    My babe served me breakfast at midnight – Omah Lay

    Popular Nigerian singer, Omah Lay has opened up about his battle with depression.

    The singer in a series of tweets on Tuesday said he battled depression while recording his album ‘Boy Alone’.

    He tweeted: “I wanna spill my heart on this app like this, ‘Boy Alone’ might be the last time y’all will hear me cry on a song, On G, I was dead down, insecure, scared, depressed, and losing my mind like. I was literally gonna kill myself.

    “People I used to look up to stopped showing me love, I looked people in the eye and saw doubt, disrespect, and hate. I lost myself, maybe I was just overthinking, I don’t know.

    “My babe served me breakfast at midnight. I wanted to go crazy.

    “I felt like I lost it until after I finished recording Boy Alone. I listened to myself and realized I’m one of the hardest sh*t African music has ever seen,” he wrote.

  • Prepare for loneliness, depression, Nigerians in the UK tell those seeking to relocate

    A Nigerian lady based in the U.K has dished out an advice to those who are hoping to relocate to the European country.

    In a video she shared on her TikTok page, @preshe_vibe she said those preparing to come should also prepare for depression as they’ll be depressed at least five times a week.

    She also claimed they will battle with mental health issues and emotional stress even if they felt they were strong in Nigeria.

    “I will never advise you not to come to the UK, my brother feel free to come o. But let me advice you based on experience…prepare for depression. Prepare to be depressed at least five times in a week.

    “No matter how strong you think you are, when you get here, you ain’t strong. It’s a totally different thing. Depression, mental health, emotional stress, everything.

    She added that for her, Nigeria still has the best food, music and remains her favourite country to live in, despite the challenges.

    “You won’t believe if I tell you am on my way back sis. Making plans honey. I can’t come and die for nothing,” he added.

    Other Nigerians residing in the UK also took to twitter to share their experiences, corroborating the warning that life could get lonely and force one to slip into depression sometimes.

    In a twitter space session hosted for the Nigerian community in the UK on Sunday, a member of the community named Dare who is studying conservation biology at Napier University said he sometimes is bothered by the fact that he is the only dark-skinned person in his class.

    “In my course, I’m not the only Nigerian, I’m the only black person. If you come to my campus, I’m not sure you can see ten dark-skinned people at a particular point in time.

    “So if you’re coming to Edinburgh Scotland, or places like Aberdeen or Dundeen, you might be the only black person in the next 200-meter radius. At some point, if they count 100, 000 people, you might be the only black person.

    “So prepare for the shock especially if you’re coming around August-September because that’s when we have a lot of tourists in the city,” he said.

    Another member of the community, who identified himself as Azubike lamented that it can really be lonely sometimes and most Nigerians find solace in working round the clock.

    “It all boils down to the whole loneliness thingy. If you don’t have people to talk to, or people to go out with basically and spend the money, then it means you should be making more money,” he said.

    Also contributing to the discussion, Oluwalesi said that the loneliness experienced can have psychological implications.

    “Depression is real in this country, it’s not a joke. Loneliness is a problem here. Where you have barely nobody to talk to, you are always online or studying. I think it has a psychological effect,” he said.

    A Council of Europe report gives a figure of 100,000 Nigerians in the UK but suggests that this is likely to be an underestimate since it does not include irregular migrants or children born outside of Nigeria.

  • Despair: Suicide, Never an Option! – By Michael West

    The shocking news of a suicide reportedly committed by a telecommunications company’s employee, Folake Abiola, an accountant, last weekend, shook the news media space. Largely described as a good woman, unmarried and an active church worker, Folake painfully ended her life abruptly.

    Several issues have so far been speculated as likely causes of her action but since she’s no more to tell us exactly why she did it, let’s leave out the speculations. However, what is glaring is that she was troubled. She kept her pains to herself until it snowballed into a mental health issue which eventually led to suicide. For those who may care to know, depression is a common mental disorder.

    In February 8, 2020 edition of this column, headlined: “Heartbreak: Suicide, Never an Option,” I addressed the issue with real life encounters. In fact, the woman I counselled against suicide who was jobless, frustrated and depressed at the time is now a lecturer in a state university. 

    Because of the relevance of the article to the issue at stake, and for the benefit of those who have not read it, I hereby present a part of the February 8, 2020 article. Read on:

    A number of people have expressed despair about life generally, while two of them confided in me about their plans to end their lives gruesomely and prematurely through suicide. January 4, 2020 precisely, God ‘arrested’ a woman on her way to drown herself in an undisclosed river. “I was in a public vehicle to the river to drown myself when suddenly I saw a man with a flaming sword waiting at the bank of the river. I could hear him loud and clear while still in the bus. He told me to go back otherwise he would cut me into pieces. That’s how I alighted from the bus about two kilometers to the river and I came back home.”

    January 23, 2020, I had a late night WhatsApp chats and later a call with another woman and a friend who had made up her mind to end her life in a matter of days. I decided to publish our chats here because of several others who are still mooting such an evil idea in their minds. Please read and share this article as a way of stopping the needless cases of suicide. Our chats:

    “Good evening, sir.”

    ‘Evening my dear. How are you doing?’

    “I’m fine, sir. And you?”

    ‘All glory to God, I dey kampe.’

    “Thank God”

    ‘Are you into another relationship now?’

    “I’m yet to”

    ‘How about your job?’

    “I’ve not got anything serious”

    ‘Why?’

    “But nothing interests me anymore. I want to go”

    ‘Go to where?’

    “My Maker”

    ‘By what means?’

    “Never mind”

    ‘You should talk to me. Are we no longer friends? I want to invite you for a talk’

    “That’s nice. Anyway, I just want to tell you, sir, not to bother about me again. The game is almost over. I will soon go. I don’t want it to come to you as a rude shock. It is well with my soul.”

    ‘Are you saying you want to end it all by committing suicide?’

    (No response – Silence)

    ‘Are you still there?’

    “Yes, sir”

    ‘Answer me now’

    “Absolutely”

    ‘You don’t mean it. You want to commit suicide and throw your parents into mourning at old-age? You want to commit suicide and leave your three beautiful children to suffer? You want to commit suicide so you go into eternal condemnation in hell for committing murder? Who said your soul will go into eternal rest or peace if you kill yourself? How will your untimely death be the solution to your problems? Already your straying husband is dating another woman, enjoying himself as if he’s never been married. Is death your only response to his action for deserting you and your children even when you are not at fault?

    ‘Have you forgotten the saying that: “when there’s life, there’s hope”? Let me assure you, my dear, nobody has ever committed suicide without regretting it yonder. God doesn’t accept sorry or repentance in hell. While you are alive, you can make peace with God, your Maker. You have ample opportunities to repent and restitute your ways before death. There’s no room for repentance inside the grave.

    ‘All the prayers and wishful expressions people make for the dead have no impact or relevance in the deceased’s eternal destination. You can’t pray for the dead and the dead can’t pray for you either. Prayers for the dead are mere religious rites that are of no effect on the departed. The only prayers that are very meaningful and effectual at funerals are those offered for the friends, family members of the deceased and the other mourners. Sermons at funerals are meant for the living while the entire burial ceremony is just a reminder to everybody that it will be an individual’s turn someday.

    ‘Therefore, think deeply about your decision to end your life prematurely and unceremoniously. Think about the negative news report the incident will generate in the media. Think about the image, embarrassment and grief your death will bring to your family and children. If after your death Nigeria becomes a haven of opportunities, do you think there’s a way you will benefit from it? How will you feel, if God permits you to look back in torment of hell and see your children attaining greatness and success when you should still be alive to reap the fruits of your labour?

    ‘If because you are no more, (God forbid) your children become deprived, molested, oppressed and enslaved by other women, strangers or callous people, how will you feel if you are allowed to see their condition from the pit of hell? Lastly, how will you feel, if you look back and see your husband, despite his wayward lifestyle, later repents and make it to heaven while you languish in eternal abyss whereas you are in hell because of his bad behaviours?

    ‘Jesus the Lord says that what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul; or what will he use in exchange of his soul? The simple understanding of this profound statement is that the entire American dollars ever printed plus the whole British pound sterling including the choicest mansions and the best of cars, yachts and jets put together are not worth the value of one soul in the sight of God. The spirit in you that makes you a living soul is that of God and not your own. Therefore, forceful termination of life is a grave offence punishable by eternal condemnation in the pit of hell where God does not answer prayers or accept apologies for any wrong doing. Think about these things and make your choice.’

    “Hmmmmmm”

    ‘Hello’

    “Hi, sir”

    ‘What’s your response to what I have stated?’

    “Thank you, sir. I’m grateful”

    ‘You’re welcome. Are you still going ahead on your suicide mission?’

    “Hmmmm. I don’t think so”

    ‘Meaning?’

    “I have changed my decision, sir. I will give life a little more push (weeps)”

    ‘Really?’

    “(She sobs) Yes, sir”

    ‘You’re not a mistake. God created you and everyone else purposefully. Be positive about life. Stop searching for who will bear your burden with you. Whoever God has ordained for you will certainly locate you. Get your acts together, pray the more, double your efforts at engaging yourself in productive ventures, and be positive about life and about yourself. Make yourself happy, my dear. By this time next year, your life will be a testimony of a great turnaround!’

    “Amen, sir. Thank you. Good night (weeps)”

    In conclusion, regardless of what life may throw at us, courage, patience, unrelenting efforts, prayers and faith in God for a better tomorrow will sustain us. Vicissitudes of life present diverse people with diverse problems; and solutions will come in diverse ways also. The greatest treasure God gave to mankind is life, and whoever terminates his/her own has committed an unforgivable sin and the judgment of God awaits the person hereafter. Therefore be strong, courageous and hopeful. Your tomorrow is great and God will see you through. Amen!

    Quote:

    “Anyway, I just want to tell you, sir, not to bother about me again. The game is almost over. I will soon go. I don’t want it to come to you as a rude shock. It is well with my soul.”

     

    • West wrote via

    mikeawe@yahoo.co.uk

    08059964446

    08035304268

  • How I survived deep dark depression – Eva Alordiah

    How I survived deep dark depression – Eva Alordiah

    Elohor Eva Alordiah, better known as Eva Alordiah or simply Eva has narrated how she survived what she terms as deep, dark depression.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Eva as saying she battled depression for a long time and that was part of the reason she gave up her dream of becoming the “greatest female rapper in Africa”.

    The rapper, who had made waves in the last decade, took to her social media page to share her experience with depression.

    She revealed that she was suffering from a deep dark depression, which she said, she eventually overcame.

    Revealing that she now owns a tech start-up, has a new life and recording again, Eva wrote:

    5 years ago I gave up my dream of becoming the greatest female rapper in Africa. I was suffering a deep, dark depression.

    Today I own a Tech Start-up, I have new life & I’m Recording again! Here’s what I have learned about giving up your dreams, Depression & Finding yourself

    You are an Artist, You are NOT your Art. Over the years I had become identified with what I did —Eva The Rapper – I didn’t know myself beyond that. It has taken years of persistent introspection, meditation & patience to know myself and stand apart from my work.

    I now understand the Depression as a Spiritual experience- a shedding of old layers, the stripping away of illusion, a coming face to face with all that isn’t so I can see what IS I am not my thoughts, I am not my Body. I am not my accomplishments. I AM //not medical advice.

    The Depression was the pathway to my Awakening. It forced me to give up who I thought I was, to block off everyone else and their dogmas, and to accept a state of nothingness. I found peace when I accepted myself as No thing, No one, No me. //not medical advice.

    Your Purpose in Life has nothing to do with making Money & getting Fame. I was famous, yet I was dying daily in the loneliness of my privacy. I found Purpose when I learned that my Gifts were given me by the Creator to help people Focus on serving people, all else is bullshit.

    Fame can Destroy you if you are not grounded in your Source. Everyone knew who I was, but I looked in the mirror & was lost! I committed myself to KNOWING my Self & God within. I questioned everything & searched in weird places for ancient wisdom. If you Seek you shall find

    Be You, the world will adjust. In finding myself again, I realized I didn’t have to do what was expected of me. I started using my gifts in New ways & felt no pressure to please anyone. I simply did what I wanted to do. You are still here.

    Sometimes you may have to give up who you think you should be so you can become who you really came to be. I thought I wanted to be a Rapper. Now I have come to understand myself as a Teacher at my core. My skills in Writing, Speaking, Music- all combine now to help me Teach

    What people think is their problem to deal with. Trust that You know what you are doing. I got even more depressed reading comments like — “You fell off “What are you doing with your life “Your career crashed— I learned to block the noise & trust MY WAY. I am happier for it

    In Finding yourself and starting over, you are ALLOWED to do whatever the fuck you want.

    I gave myself permission to try new things & do it ALL! I built a SAAS platform. I created content online. I hosted Webinars. I did more writing.

    As an Artist, you can do many things, but you CANNOT be everything at the same time. Trying my hands in different things meant that I learned and acquired many diverse skills quickly. But to grow as a person, I have had to CHOOSE one thing & combine my skills to fulfill that.

    As an Artist, taking a break from your Art is Beneficial. If you spend your time away developing yourself and acquiring new skills, everything you learn will combine to make you an even better Artist. I didn’t quit music. I stopped to go find my true self. I am better for it

    7 Things that pulled me out of the Depression:
    Making peace with being a NOBODY
    Positive affirmations & Journaling

    An obsession with Self development
    Intense Daily Exercise
    Ferocious reading & study
    Meditation
    Connecting with Nature

    //not medical advice

    Everything you were told is a Lie. You have to give up the old Mind & become born-again. I was raised Christian—after the depression, being born again holds NEW meaning. You must rewire your beliefs & become transformed by the reNEWing of your mind. Question everything

    Happiness is NOT a destination. It is a state of mind that can be tapped into by the redirection of your Awareness. People want to be happy when they: -get the job -become famous -have more money If you are not happy where you are now, you won’t be happy where you are going

    Entertainment is great. Education is Power.

    For 5 years through my healing process I
    stopped listening to music
    stopped watching TV
    stopped going out

    Instead I stayed home &
    read books
    listened to audio trainings
    enrolled in Youtube University
    spent time with fam369310

    Here are 6 Speakers and 5 Books that Helped me a Lot when I was depressed:

    – Jiddu Krishnamurti
    – Neville Goddard
    – Alan Watts
    – Dr Myles Munroe
    – Jim Rohn
    – Les Brown

    – Think and Grow Rich
    – The Power of Now
    – Seth Speaks
    – Feeling is the Secret
    – The Artists Way

    You can’t give your Best to the world when you are broken. I always knew I was going to get back to my music as some point, I just didn’t know when. Day after day I watched my Confidence plummet but my focus was on being healthy, not pleasing the world. Take care of you

    Yes I am back to recording again!

    Fortunately, I don’t give a fuck about fame.

    I am now only making music for people who want it.

    Today I find fulfillment in using my words not only to Rap & Entertain, but to Speak, Teach, Inspire, Empower and uplift people.

    I now spend my time juggling between helping Creators make money selling courses and recording music.

    It is by Grace.

    PS: When I was depressed, I was also unfortunately Broke AF. I turned to the Internet and learned how to make money online by selling my own digital products.

    Be vocal about your Pain. Every time you share, you help the next person. Sharing my stories through the years has been a super weapon for me

  • Depression: I’m slowly reaching my breaking point, BBNaija Omashola laments

    Depression: I’m slowly reaching my breaking point, BBNaija Omashola laments

    Former Big Brother Naija Pepper Dem Gang housemate, Omashola Oburoh, has stated that he’s going through depression and though he’s trying to keep his cool, he’s slowly reaching breaking point.

    The reality TV star made this known when he took to his Instagram page on Monday to share a picture that depicts droplets of tears on a piece of paper.

    In the caption, the said that he’s facing so much pressure, adding that he’s lonely in a world surrounded by people.

    Omashola wrote, “They say in your youth, depression is mostly peer pressure and the strife to not want to be left behind. In old age, depression is a bucket full of regrets and it is worse than the former.

    “Thank God I’m still young but plenty pressure man dey face. I believe in myself normally based on who I be and it is me and my team till the wheels fall off but right now ehn, only God fit understand.

    “ I’m lonely in a world surrounded by people. Trying to keep my cool but slowly reaching my breaking point.” (sic)

     

  • BBNaija: I’m still depressed despite being at Big Brother’s show – Angel

    BBNaija: I’m still depressed despite being at Big Brother’s show – Angel

    Big Brother Naija, BBNaija season 6 housemate, Angel has said that being in Big Brother’s house is exhausting.

    Angel made this known after being nominated for possible eviction this week.

    Speaking with Saskay, Angel said she’s still depressed and fears what life has to offer her outside the show.

    Angel said: “I have to keep entertaining people, talking to people when you don’t want to.

    “I miss being in an environment when I’m not competing with anyone. I’ve been second guessing myself continuously.

    “It’s becoming exhausting. I’m grateful to be here but I thought coming here will take away my depression but there’s a nut in my chest.

    “I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m still depressed and anxious. I don’t know what life is preparing me for but I’ll have to face people outside the house.”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Liquorose, one of the housemates had said she was depressed before Big Brother. “I was depressed for four months before Big Brother.

    “I went for audition and someone said to me ‘Rose, dance is not meant for you’ then I stopped going for auditions and was depressed for four months before Big Brother.”

     

     

  • BBNaija: I came out of depression after losing my wife in 2017 – Boma

    BBNaija: I came out of depression after losing my wife in 2017 – Boma

    BBNaija ‘Shine Ya Eye’ housemate, Boma, revealed that he fell into depression after his marriage crashed in 2017.

    According to Boma, he lost everything that year including his career which made him depressed.

    However, he was able to come out of depression after his best friend convinced him to go for another audition and he got the role.

    Boma said:“In 2017 I lost everything, my career, life and wife.

    “Everything was gone life was hopeless my loved ones were gone but I had my best friend who told me there’s always light at the end of a tunnel.

    “He told me I needed to try again and go for it! He said when one door closes another door opens.

    “I got up and went for another audition and I was chosen for the role and that was how I came out of depression and my life changed.”

  • Hints on how to prevent depression

    Dr Bunmi Oluwagbami, a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist with the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, has advised Nigerians to take care of their mental health to avoid depression.

    Oluwagbami, who is also a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist gave the advice on Friday in Lagos saying engaging in positive activities that give happiness, while avoiding anger could help prevent depression.

    She said that anger produces a physiological crash, saying that the angrier one got, the more depressed one would get.

    According to her, anger elevates blood pressure, increases threat of stroke, heart diseases, cancer, depression, anxiety and in general depresses the immune system.

    “Angry people have a lot of little aches, pains or get a lot of colds, headaches and stomach upset.

    “The health effects of anger have more to do with duration than frequency and intensity,’’ she said.

    She, therefore, warned that Nigerians should strive to avoid anger as consistent prolonged level of anger could result to higher risk of dying before the age of 50.

    The neuropsychiatrist said there cannot be health without mental health, saying one should be surrounded with positive people for well being.

    She urged Nigerians to share their thoughts with positive people to enhance their mental health.

    “Constantly surrounding yourself with positive people will help manage depression and stress. Buying expensive clothes, jewelleries will not bring permanent happiness.

    “We need to create time for relaxation and look beyond the economic situation of the country; we need to focus on positive things in every bad situation,’’ Oluwagbami advised.

    She said that being happy had impact on one’s level of productivity at workplace, adding that happiness also impact relationship with people.

    She noted that being happy could help one enhance blood pressure level and lengthen one’s lifespan.

    “If someone is in a happy state of mind then there would be less troubles and stress, if someone is unhappy there will be depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and stress disorder.

    “Depression is a significant problem that has affected some youths which has made them to be drug addicts.

    “Drug addiction is being experimented due to the poor state of mental health, which seeks temporary pleasure and satisfaction,” she said.