PROVOST of Institute of Counselling in Nigeria (ICN), Dr. Tolulope Oko-Igaire, has urged Nigerians to visit counsellors and psychotherapists regularly for a mental health check.
She spoke at an event, tagged: Online Marathon Mental Health Awareness Campaign organised by ICN to mark this year’s World Mental Health Day.
With the theme: Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for All a Global Priority, the institute reached out to more people.
A report showed three of every 10 Nigerians had mental illness.
World Health Organisation (WHO) has said isolation, fear of disease and death, as well as strained socio-economic circumstances after COVID contributes to 25 per cent rise in depression and anxiety.
It also reports that 11 people per 100,000 die by suicide in Africa, higher than global average of nine per 100,000.
WHO noted that mental health accounts for 11 per cent of risk factors of suicide.