The Origami Society of Nigeria has stressed the importance of addressing the mental health needs of healthcare professionals who play vital roles in society but are vulnerable to stress and other related issues associated with their work.
Members and resource persons of the society recently made this known in Lagos at their two-day Origami in Mental Health events themed ‘Caring for carers: Origami as a tool for wellbeing in healthcare settings’, which was in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day 2023 with the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.
The activities of the first day were held virtually, while the second-day activities were physically held at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta, Lagos.
Founder of the society, Oluwatobi Sodimu, while speaking on the theme of World Mental Health Day, explained why the society was focusing on the mental health of caregivers and health practitioners.
Therapist and founder of Expressive Origami, K. Toshiko, emphasised the significance of origami in healthcare settings.
She demonstrated how the simple act of folding a piece of paper can be relieving and have positive impacts on the mind.
Toyosi Ogunfowora, a psychiatrist, stated that risk factors such as stressful events, work overload, role ambiguity, job insecurity, unhealthy work environments, bullying, poor social support, and personality traits can lead to mental health issues.
Ogunfowora emphasised the importance of the willingness to open up, undergo checkups, accept vulnerability, and prioritise physical health care. She added that self-care is not selfishness − that it involves actions such as asking for help, taking time off, setting boundaries, and forgiving oneself.
The third speaker spoke on ‘Taking care of yourself as a caregiver.’ He advised caregivers to engage in self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, taking regular breaks to rest and recharge, and seeking support from family, friends, or therapists.
During the panel sections, Francis Ojile, Dr John Adenle, Toyosi Ogunfowora, Chima Asonye, and Olusola Oladeji spoke on how caregivers and health professionals can manage or prevent mental health issues associated with their work.
The second-day activities of the Origami in Mental Health intervention project physically held as a workshop at FMC in Ebute Metta.
At the workshop, over 28 healthcare providers – many of whom were not familiar with the art of origami before the workshop − participated in various origami folding activities.
Many of the resident doctors, led by the president of the Association of Resident Doctors, FMC, Ebutte Metta, Dr Odekunle, said they found origami beneficial to their work.
The healthcare providers and doctors recommended the incorporation of origami into hospital settings as a therapeutic tool.
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