EXPERTS say stakeholders need to recognise the impact of protests on the mental health of Nigerians and invest in the mental health and wellbeing of the population always, especially during collective actions such as the #EndSARS protests, an anti-police protest.
In a new study, the researchers had assessed the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests on the mental health of Nigerians and declared that the government should be more proactive in addressing social grievances to avoid collective actions that may result in loss of lives and property as well as cause mental health challenges.
The study to determine the burden of mental health morbidity and its determinants in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest had involved social media users completing an online anonymous survey from the 21st of February to the 1st of April 2021 via a google form. It was in the October 2021 Policy Brief of the Aside Foundation, a not-for-profit mental health advocacy charity.
A total of 426 respondents participated in the study. Twenty-seven per cent of the participants did not participate in the #EndSARS protest while 73 per cent did. Most of the protesters were young, unmarried, and unemployed compared to non-protesters.
The researchers found elevated levels of mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, among both protesters and non-protesters following the #EndSARS protest, with outcomes significantly worse among protesters.
They said among non-protesters, those at higher risk of poor mental health outcomes include those who were unmarried, unemployed and with low resilience.
In addition, among protesters, those at higher risk of poor mental health outcomes include those with low resilience, are under-/unemployed, hold the view that the protest was caused by the state of the economy, held the belief that the protest had a direct negative impact on them and those willing to participate in future protests.
They, therefore, recommend that mental health professionals should be aware of the psychological effects of protests in Nigeria as well as the government, NGOs, and policymakers investing in the mental health of populations, especially young persons, particularly during collective actions like a protest.
In addition, they asked for an investment in programmes that promote resilience as well as in policies that address social and political determinants of mental health.
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