“It felt like being alone in a dark room, in a dark house, in a dark world, where the darkness never ends no matter the direction you face or path you choose, I was lost, broken and above all I had given up on happiness. I waited for the day it would end and even made attempts to end it myself” – This was an extract of an interview I had with an undergraduate student of the University of Ilorin.
In the past couple of months, there have been reports of suicide cases among Nigerians mostly the youths. On December 3rd 2018, a 27-year old student of University of Ilorin, committed suicide. It was attributed to the failure he recorded in his final year academic project last session in which he was made to repeat the current one before his death. His close friends claimed the deceased was subjected to depression since he failed to make the last graduation list of the institution. Recently, a student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, committed suicide over lack of “parental love”. It was reported that she took a bottle of insecticide and also left a note. In her words, she wrote, “My mum has made life a living hell for me because she is bipolar and frustrated, accusing me of being a witch and a cursed child even though my brother is responsible for my education and upkeep. The only thing she helps me with is my feeding money. I have gone out of my way to take care of my mum by giving her food and money but I still end up being her problems”.
According to American Psychiatric Association, Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that “Depression is a common illness worldwide, with more than 300 million people affected”. Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. Especially when long-lasting and with moderate or severe intensity, depression may become a serious health condition. It can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school and in the family. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Close to 800, 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year olds.
The prevalence of this Health issue can be linked to poverty and financial difficulties, drugs and alcohol, early childhood trauma – such as physical or emotional abuse, or loss of a parent – and academic related issues. The state of the economy has a wide negative effects on the youths, high unemployment rate, low wages has psychological effects on the youths rendering them in a state of despair and uncertainty. Many youth who experience the symptoms of depression turn to alcohol to help them cope, intoxication can suppress their symptoms for a while, but their desperation to escape the painful emptiness of depression may ultimately lead to alcohol dependency. Alcohol use is not a coping mechanism but an actual cause of depression. According to altamirarecovery, frequent alcohol consumption suppresses the brain’s ability to produce adequate supplies of the neurochemical serotonin, which is involved in the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, memory, learning and cardiovascular functioning. Emotions and behavior tend to be more volatile, unpredictable, and unmanageable when serotonin is absent, and those who have low levels of serotonin have been shown to be vulnerable to depression, a condition that thrives on emotional instability and disquiet. Emotional abuse or loss of parents or relatives also includes depression, emotional abuse have been greatly reported. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been greatly addressed. Large number of children at an early age are being subjected to physical and mental abuse by their parents or guardians. Some children with lost parents are some times taken to relatives who lacks empathy and subject them to various abuse. This condition has a long time detrimental effects.
Academic and school related stress are the major causes of suicides and other depression related activities on Nigerian youths. Students face challenges, stress, pressures and anxieties that can cause them to feel overwhelmed. Adapting to new schedules and workloads, adjusting to life and the environments, money and intimate relationships also can serve as major sources of stress. Some of the symptoms include Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures, or blaming self for things that aren’t responsibility. Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or suicide are also in grab for the victims.
In one of my interviews with College student. A girl named Aisha has this to say. “My lecturers didn’t help, infact a lot of them made it worse. They haven’t been helpful. They probably not aware the words they say in class affect students psychologically and fasten depression. The stress of having to reach out to your lecturers for clarity on academic issues. At times you will be told to go get clarity on internet or somewhere else. You feel ridiculed and coupled with the environmental stress in school such as the struggle for bus to take you in and out of the campus. Everything just adds up”.
The recent suicide reports have brought notice and conversations on depression. Medical practitioners and Non Governmental Organizations are racing to prevent further events and also to provide professional help. In an interview with one of the Co-founders of Mental Health Awareness Group (M.A.G) Mr Faisal Oladele, he gave the inspiration behind founding of the group. He said, “M.A.G was inspired by my story and the rampant depression-related issues that occured few months ago. It’s aimed at curbing any havoc in relation to mental health through providing supports to the victims and creating awareness of mental health-related issues to the public”.
They have been an increase in awareness. This has been championed by the NGOs and so far, it has yielded positive results. Depression is a common issue. It will need a wider collaboration and mechanism to reduce this menace. The government have a greater role from policy making and legislation to infrastructure and providing access to basic and medical facilities. There is a need to be much greater coordination among efforts for the prevention of depression among the youths. A robust strategy should be implemented. Researches on different effectiveness of prevention program should be funded. Federal agencies – such as National Orientation Agency, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youths etc – should take the lead in coordination and prevention of depression related incidences.
Almustaqim Balogun is of the Department of Plant Biology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
You can reach him via: [email protected]
