Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) with a focus on mental health in Nigeria have raised the alarm that mental health issues are on the increase in Nigeria.
The NGOs – OT Corps Foundation and Kick Against Child Abuse (KACA) – made this known in a statement issued exclusively to Tribune Online on Sunday.
Speaking on the issue, the Founder of OT Corps Foundation, Ms Christian Tamunotonye, said there is a need for Nigerians to take their mental health seriously.
Christian explained that an average Nigerian lacks knowledge of the effect of stress on mental health and the need to consult counsellors.
She further explained that pills and eating cannot provide answers to all issues as popularized by many in the country.
The founder said they held a rally to sensitize the public on the need to consult while experiencing such in order to avert issues like suicide and depression.
“The average Nigerian doesn’t recognise the effects stress has on their mental health and why it is important to talk to counsellors to help them through.
“Most things cannot be cured by just taking pills or eating, sometimes you need to talk to a professional counsellor to help ease your burden by giving you good counsel.
“That’s why we are on this rally to create awareness to the public that talking to a counsellor could help save you from depression and in worse cases suicide,” she said.
Speaking also, Kick Against Child Abuse (KACA) Secretary, Mr Stanley Ihensekhien, also harped on the importance of counselling especially in the area of child abuse as it would have an effect on mental health.
Stanley, therefore, expressed his position to support any activity in the promotion of mental health in the country.
“We have always given our support to any programme that would be beneficial to the Nigerian child and this rally is one event that we believe by creating public awareness on the need of seeing a counsellor could have a domino effect in parenting and thus stop some of form of child abuse caused by stress.
“KACA looks to partner and support other agencies in plans to hold similar rallies in other states of the federation including Abuja in the near future,” he said.
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