TheNewsGuru

Tag: depression

  • COVID-19: How to handle depression during lockdown

    A public health professional, Dr Jennifer Braimah, on Thursday counselled Nigerians to be selective of news they digest as measures to deal with depression during the COVID-19 lockdown.

    Braimah, also the Chief Executive Officer, Intensive Rescue Foundation International (IRFI), an NGO, gave this counsel during a tweet chat on the correlation of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and COVID-19.

    In the tweet chat organised by an NGO, Wave Foundation, Braimah said that engaging in worthwhile endeavours, disallowing negativity of the COVID-19 pandemic and being selective of the news digested were measures to deal with depression during the lockdown.

    “One of the hallmarks of depression is living purposelessly, once you find your purpose, depression departs. Become meaningfully engaged in a worthwhile endeavour, learn a new skill, read a book, write a book.

    “Do not allow the negativity of the moment put a permanent blight on your outstanding future.

    “Switch off news, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. Be selective of what you want to see or hear,’’ the public health professional counselled.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes depression as a common mental disorder affecting over 264 million people globally, which may result to suicide.

    It also states that over 800,000 people die by suicide annually, and that depression will be the single biggest cause of ill health in the world by 2030.

    According to Braimah, there is urgent need for people to deal with depression by seeking help, engaging in positive activities that will distract them from the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

    “This lockdown may be the time to do everything that we had put on the back burner, take online courses on an inspiring subject including Covid-19, it will keep you motivated and purposeful,’’ she said.

    The health expert further advised people to have a reputable helpline or phone number they can always reach out to talk, when the need arose, as well as stay connected to loved ones for support.

  • I thought I was going to die- Toyin Abraham opens up on battle with depression[VIDEO]

    I thought I was going to die- Toyin Abraham opens up on battle with depression[VIDEO]

    Toyin Abraham, Nollywood actress and movie producer has opened up on her battle with depression.

    The mother of one married to actor, Kola Ajeyemi noted that at some point in her life, she thought she was going to die.

    Speaking in an interview with media entrepreneur, Chude Jideonwo, she said: “Sometimes all I wanted to do was to work, get the money . I collect the money, pay the hotel and continue living my life. Sometimes, I would stand up in the middle of the night and start talking. I wasn’t scared of death. I thought of swimming inside third mainland bridge.Sometimes I will just be scared my heart will be beating so fast. I cannot explain the feeling”.

     

    On the role her manager and therapist played during her recovery process, the ‘Alakada’ actress said: “They gave me reasons to want to live , they gave me examples. I call them anytime, my counsellor and my manager, they were all working back to back. They were there for me”.

    Abraham also said that she didn’t inform any member of her family about her battle with depression.

    “I felt I was going to die, I didn’t want to be close to my family, so that If I die, they won’t really miss me. There was a day I said to myself ‘Toyin if you die now, you will now be more popular.I was looking at the crowd that would come for my funeral, I was planning for it.I just felt like there was someone out there looking at me. Even when I am alone at home, I just feel like there is someone up there recording me and willing to send it to the press”, she said.

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_IyHUenqsv/

  • Italian coronavirus patient suffers depression, Lagos unsure of discharge date

    Italian coronavirus patient suffers depression, Lagos unsure of discharge date

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has revealed that the Italian being treated for coronavirus at the Infectious Disease Centre, Yaba, is depressed but getting better.

    Abayomi, who made the statement at a briefing on Thursday, said the Italian, was responding to treatment, but would only be released when he would no longer be a threat to the other members of society.

    Abayomi said: “The Italian has been with us for one week now; his clinical situation is quite stable, the symptoms are dramatically resolving; so, we are expectant that we will continue to make this kind of progress.

    “Sometime over the weekend, he developed a respiratory symptom, and we initiated some therapy in the form of ant-viral, which are not curative, but just to make it easier for his immune system to fight the infection. He seems to have responded to that; so we are keeping him on that and there are no side effects.

    “As of today (Wednesday), he is in a better spirit; he requested psychosocial support as he was getting a bit depressed because he is in isolation. He is the only person in the ward, and of course, very few visitors, because his family is not in Nigeria.

    “His last viral load, which is the measure of the virus in his body, shows that the level is going down. If that trend continues he will be better. I can’t give the precise estimate in terms of the date that he will be released, it may not be long, perhaps another week. As soon as he is not secreting the viruses, that means he is no longer contagious. However, to be safe, after we get the first negative, we wait a few days and repeat it and if the second test is negative then we are confident that he can return to the community without posing a danger to other people.”

  • Ailing Pele slips into depression – Son

    Ailing Pele slips into depression – Son

    Football legend Pele is experiencing “a kind of depression” and barely leaves home anymore because health problems have left him unable to walk normally, his son said in an interview published Monday.

    “He’s pretty fragile in terms of his mobility… and that makes him suffer a kind of depression,” Edinho said of his 79-year-old father, who has had a series of health problems in recent years.

    “Just imagine, he’s the ‘King,’ he was always such an imposing figure, and now he can’t walk normally. He gets very shy, very embarrassed about that,” his son said in an interview published on the sports news site Globoesporte.com.

    Pele, the pride of Brazilian football and the only player to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.

    He has been in and out of hospital in recent years for various health issues.

    He never fully recovered from one of his hip operations, leaving him dependent on a walker, Edinho said.

    “He’s doing a bit better than when he was in a wheelchair recently, but he still has a hard time getting around,” said Edinho, 49.

    Pele’s public appearances have grown increasingly rare with age.

    Last April he travelled to Paris for a promotional appearance with French rising star Kylian Mbappe, but had to be hospitalised shortly after for kidney problems.

    In 2014, he was placed in intensive care for dialysis after contracting a severe urinary infection.

    The Brazilian great, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has only one kidney, after a broken rib during a match forced doctors to remove the other.

    He has also suffered a series of hip problems.

    Edinho said despite those issues his father is “doing well” physically.

  • Ruth Kadiri shares depression experience during pregnancy

    Nollywood actress, Ruth Kadiri has recounted her experience in 2019 when she suddenly became pregnant after her wedding, saying she was depressed as she never wanted a baby then.

    She, however, said, last year brought her more blessings with the arrival of the baby.

    On her Instagram page, Kadiri said after her wedding, she became pregnant and that she was not sure she wanted a baby and was scared.

    She wrote: “2019 came with more than a blessing. After my wedding I became pregnant, wasn’t sure I wanted a baby now, was so scared it will affect my career, was so scared I wouldn’t be a good mum. For unknown reasons I became depressed.

    “Thanks to @judyaustin1 who made me see how blessed a woman I was, who recounted how God had blessed me over and over again. thank God for my husband who made me know I was loved. Well it happened . A stress free pregnancy, uncle Ben, Rosssnna, and my entire Swedish family,

    “I thank you for being there for me. Reign became the top of the list of my blessings. Thanks to mummy (my mother-in-law) for loving me the way you do. Thanks to my mother ( biological mum) for standing by me. Thanks to @officialstelladimokokorkus for been a fair blogger.

    “Thanks to @maryremmynjoku for been a good friend. Thanks to @iamhuk for your prayers. May we all continue to celebrate in this life and forever. Amen. @reignezerika thanks for lighting up my world with your smiles and laughter.”

  • Being alone and celibate can lead you to depression- Alibaba

    Atunyota Alleluya Akporobomerere, a Nigerian comedian better known as Alibaba, is of the opinion that being alone and celibate can lead to depression.

    The ace comedian made this known while commenting on the need for young adults to get married.

    He made this known via his Instagram page: “Being in a relationship is important. Being alone and celibate… can lead you to depression faster than you think”.

    Back in August 2019, Alibaba stated that his father disowned him when he decided to venture into comedy.

    According to him:“In 1988, when I started doing stand- up comedy…my father disowned me. His reason? He could not see any future in what I did. Many people are limited by history of things and what they already know. Those who create the future get triggered by things that can be seen in the future. How futuristic are your dreams? What is it that needs to be developed? Who will benefit from it? What are the things that will make it happen?

    “I look back now and think about how many people tried to discourage me. Those who thought the ladder to success, was exclusively by climbing as a Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Banker, Architect, Accountant, Civil Servant. Today, there are comedians who are worth 3 billion (more or less) in assets and liquid cash. There are comedians, whose social impact and economic value has empowered many who are in those core walks of life mentioned above”.

     

  • Depression, ill health made me fall in love with fitness-Kemen

    Depression, ill health made me fall in love with fitness-Kemen

    Former Big Brother Naija 2017 housemate, Ekemini Ekerete, better known as Kemen, has revealed how being depressed made him fall in love with keeping fit.

    In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, the fitness trainer said he had planned his life at age 20 only for his plans to hit the rocks.

    “10yrs ago when I was 20 and working in a multinational company, I thought @25 I would be married, have my last child @29 help my wife get her body back in a year @30 and start acting as new lovers ever after,” he began.

    “Oh well, I guess I thought too loud and my yard people heard me. I lost my job 3yrs later after I turned 23. 25 met me at the darkest point in my life, depression and ill health led me to fitness but it was obviously designed by God that I go that route because he placed everyone I needed to get me through the hard times.”

    He continued: “Five years down the line, I can say that fitness changed my life, my person, my perspective, my ideology and my understanding of life.

    “In fitness, I found peace, love, satisfaction, hope, and fulfillment. I may not have all I want, but I certainly have what I need.”

    2017 was a tough time Kemen when he was disqualified from the Big Brother Naija reality show after he was found guilty of touching Tboss inappropriately without her consent.

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B20AcmZAugv/

  • Wave of depression in recent times is scary- Simi

    Wave of depression in recent times is scary- Simi

    Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistently low mood and a feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is a persistent problem, not a passing one, lasting on average 6 to 8 months.

    ‘Jamb Question’ singer, Simi has expressed her thoughts on the wave of depression saying it is ‘scary and sad’.

    Simi was responding to a question concerning her opinion regarding the rate of depression cases in the country.

    The award winning entertainer noted that depression thrives on a strong desire to get people’s validation. Simi stated further that that the fear of failure is also responsible for depression.

    “It’s scary and sad. Especially for young men. The struggle to keep up. The fear of failure. The desperate desire for validation. Very scary. I hope that we can let people know it’s ok to share and lean on someone when things get too heavy,” Simi wrote.

     

     

     

    TheNewsGuru recalls that back in March, Segun, a candidate of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), attempted to commit suicide via a live stream on social media.

    Cases of celebrities battling with depression are not unlikely in Nigeria as it is in other parts of the world. In fact, in recent times, many cases have been recorded in the Nigerian entertainment industry, with music artistes mostly the victims. In the likely scenario, it is not uncommon to see such depressive mood, often expressed via suicide notes to associates or posts on social media.

     

  • Taraji P. Henson opens up on battle with depression, anxiety

    Taraji P. Henson opens up on battle with depression, anxiety

    Renowned actress, Taraji got emotional as she testified before Congress on Friday about her battle with depression and anxiety.
    The Empire star shocked her audience, when she spoke about her battle with depression and fear. Her speech centered around Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health.
    “I really don’t know how to fix this problem, I just know that the suicide rate is rising,” she said. “I just know that ages of the children that are committing suicide are getting younger and younger.”
    “It breaks my heart to know that 5-year-old children are contemplating life and death,” Henson said. “I just…I’m sorry. That one is tough for me. So I’m here to appeal to you, because this is a national crisis. When I hear of kids going into bathrooms, cutting themselves, you’re supposed to feel safe in school.”
    “I’m here using my celebrity, using my voice, to put a face to this because I also suffer from depression and anxiety,” she continued. “And if you’re a human living in today’s world, I don’t know how you’re not suffering in any way, I mean if you turn on the news, that’s PTSD right there. We need each other. This is me reaching across the table, trying to lend a helping hand in the best way I can. We have to save the children.”
  • Game of Thrones star, Sophie Turner recounts battle with depression

    Game of Thrones star, Sophie Turner recounts battle with depression

    Star actress, Sophie Turner has been on Game of Thrones since 2011. Sadly starting out as a young actress at the age of 23 affected her mental health.

    Speaking in a chat with Dr. Phil, Turner described how, around age 17, feelings of depression “all of a sudden just kind of hit me,” as her friends went off to university and she felt isolated by working on TV and living alone.

     

    “It started to go downhill when I started to hit puberty and was gaining weight and there was the social media scrutiny and everything,” she said.

    “People used to write ‘Sansa gained ten pounds’ or ‘Sansa needs to lose ten pounds,” Turner said, adding that she had trouble performing in character because she was so focused on the criticism.

    “I would say I am spotty, I am fat, I am a bad actress, and I believed it.” Turner added that, at the time, she had no motivation to go out with anyone, even her friends, but that she did confide in her co-star Maisie Williams, who could understand her experience.

    Turner also acknowledged the contribution of her fiancé, Joe Jonas, who was in the room during her Dr. Phil interview

    She said: “I won’t be judged by him; he’s seen the worst”.