The Nation Newspaper

Tag: mental

  • Brain nutrition and mental fitness

    Brain nutrition and mental fitness

    Yesterday, I had an unusual breakfast.  I decided to have a balanced meal instead of a usual something.  Later in the day as I went through my emails, I got a rejection letter. The email actually came in three days earlier but I did not notice it amongst the many that I had opened.  Providentially, I must have seen it and opened it when I was mentally fit to open it.

    Mental fitness can make a big difference to how we respond to the ups and downs of life and how positive and negative experiences affect us.  Mental fitness enables us to reach mental heights. It makes a difference between mediocrity and greatness.  It is not so much about how much education we have received.  A stark illiterate could be more mentally fit than a university professor.  However, mental fitness does help us in acquiring knowledge and qualifications.

    Mental fitness is important for personal well-being, societal health, and nation building.   The progress of a nation generally depends on the contributions of individual citizens, the commoners and the ruling class. These contributions emanate from mental fitness when we are opportune to contribute in whatever sphere of influence.

    Good nutrition is an essential contributor to mental fitness just as it is to bodily fitness. Therefore we revise here what good nutrition means for the common man.

    Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is now global standard of eating pattern and has stood the test of time.   One could have a habit of eating once a day or twice a day.  This is seen amongst animals, some of which eat once every few days.  It is hard work catching a prey and they simply eat to satiety when they manage to kill and leave the rest to vultures.  Let us hope no human is forced to eat once every few days or only whenever kindness comes to a beggar.  There are many reasons one could opt to eat once a day or twice a day.

    For some time in California, USA, I was eating a big breakfast and doing long experiments in the lab throughout the day and eating a big dinner in the evening. I got into the habit of skipping lunch but I might have been eating more than somebody eating three meals a day because I was not getting slim.  I confess, I put on a few extra pounds.

    In many parts of the developed world, people eat once a day out of poverty.  In Lagos, this is styled 001, 010, or 100 depending on what part of the day is lucky.The world standard for good nutrition is breakfast, lunch, and dinner and we should try to have this standard.Missing meals leads to low blood sugar, low energy for the brain and muscles, and low mood, plus irritability and fatigue.  This way of life can hardly produce rocket scientists, wonder working engineers, radical technologists, magical entrepreneurs, or the brood of people that tows a nationunto greatness nor can  it achieve precision planning, brilliant logistics, astute  management, technical endurance, etc., – some of the stuff that makes great nations.

    Fresh produce tend to be more nutritious and safer than synthetic products, assuming everything were equally hygienic.An average adult should eat the following types of foods regularly.

    FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.The World Health Organization recommends that individuals consume a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables per day. This amounts to about 5 portions of fruits and vegetables, each portion about 80g, and not counting starchy tubers such as yams and cassava.  Thus theBritish authorities have been encouraging at least “five a day”.  The British Dietary Association says: “Try to eat one or two portions with each meal and make fruit or vegetables the first choice for a snack and it will be easy to eat at least five a day” (https://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/FruitVeg.pdf).  Because  a variety of fruits and vegetables is important for us to get different vitamins and minerals, we are also advised to “eat a rainbow”.  Therefore if you are including something green, something white, something red, something yellow, something orange, something  purple, etc., amongst your fruits and vegetables, you are most likely getting a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and protective antioxidants and phytonutrients.

    Tropical foods, traditionally, are well cooked because of the risk of parasites in lightly cooked foods-  including those that have a variety of vegetables as ingredients.  Egusi soup, for example, has its own rainbow of vegetables:  tomatoes, onions, peppers, greens, and egusi.  Well-cooked food retains a lot of minerals but some vitamins are lost.  Therefore, fresh fruits need to be added to such diets.   The streets of Lagos and perhaps those of many cities in the tropics have many fruit vendors and city dwellers should take advantage to eat a variety of clean fruits regularly.

    The Telegraph in Britain, in 2014, reported a 12-year study by researchers at the University College London that found that “eating large quantities of fruit and vegetables significantly lowered the risk of premature death. People who ate at least seven portions of fruit and vegetables each day were 42 per cent less likely to die from any cause over the course of the study.” Thus ten portions of fruit and vegetables daily were recommended (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/10735633/Healthy-diet-means-10-portions-of-fruit-and-vegetables-per-day-not-five.html).  The average budget can do with five portions for good enough health.  It is not necessary to think too much about the numbers, five, ten, etc. We need to think about the idea – variety with constancy. To be continued.

     

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

  • ‘Herbal treatment can stop mental ill health’

    ‘Herbal treatment can stop mental ill health’

    AnaturopAth, Dr Solomon Abutoh, has recommended herbal treatment for mental problems.

    According to him, most cases of mental ill health can be tackled with herbs,  such as Asofeyeje in Yoruba.

    He said the leaf of the plant is suitable, adding that the bark is more potent, advising that it must be used sparingly.

    Quoting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) definition of health, Abutoh said  man is tripartite (has spirit, soul and body), adding that health and wellness should be tackled.

    He said: “Diseases, therefore, manifest along the lines of man’s nature. Some are physical as in wounds while the others could be less physical in origin, such as emotional cases, yet are capable of affecting human behaviour and or attitudes.”

    Mental problems, he said, could also be caused by man’s lifestyle. “For example, excessive alcohol use and drug abuse are chief among man-made problems.

    “Many of those who take marijuana, cocaine and heroine have become mad because of the effect drugs have on them.”

    Some people, he said, have lost their sanity because they received sudden and unpleasant news, such as the death of their loved ones.

    They are in shock, he added.

    Besides, manipulation of the human spirit by means beyond the physical may also be responsible for people’s funny behaviour.

    “Amnesia, which is memory loss due to ageing is another mental issue,” he added.

    He continued: “Whatever the doubt, unbelief or stigma people may ascribe to mental health, the fact is that there are people, irrespective of their educational, professional, social background, who just cannot explain why they do some of the things they do or say. Many of them are sick in the head.

    “Sadly, people only recognise a mental case when the subject or victim starts going about in tattered clothes, picks or scavenge the dustbin for food, or even completely walk about nude on the streets.”

    He said mental disorders manifest in stages, adding that early detection and prompt treatment is best for treatment.

    The naturopath said there are people of high professional/social standing that are mentally sick.

    “These people are even saddled with critical decision-making positions or responsibilities. They also determine the fate of many, if not the whole country.

    Some doctors, nurses, pilots, judges, political leaders, bankers, sailors, personal/commercial drivers, handlers of light to heavy weapons, nuclear weapons are mentally ill,” he said.

    Abutoh said there was the need to subject them to periodic psychiatric checks to determine and assess their mental state.

    He said mental conditions may be subtle in coming but it is no fiction.

  • Mental Preparation

    Mr. Thomas sat at a comfortable but less conspicuous spot at the conference table. He had arrived 15 minutes before the meeting to carefully select it. Hopefully, the seat would give him better advantage than he had enjoyed in the past. The meeting was to be a crucial one, which would determine the company’s strategic direction for the year. Thomas had brilliant ideas, as usual; but also as usual, no one would get to hear them. He specially selected the position at the table, not because he desired to be close enough to contribute, but to be far enough to be invisible.

    The meeting started on a comfortable note and everything went on as Thomas planned. Twice when the group brainstormed for several minutes on specific subjects and couldn’t arrive at the best approach to adopt, Thomas thought he had an idea, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. On the first subject, the group eventually arrived at an acceptable approach, which happened to be strikingly similar to what Thomas had in mind. So, what did Thomas do? He thought to himself, “see, I knew they don’t need me; they would always figure it out.”

    For the second subject, however, they could not agree on the best thing to do. Thomas waited and waited but they could not come up with any brilliant idea. Finally, the MD decided they should move on to other subjects and return to the problematic one later. They had already moved on to something else when Thomas finally decided to try to say something. In order to find a comfortable way of interrupting the new line of discussion, he coughed. The cough made everyone look in his direction. As he looked into all their eyes, he felt like disappearing into his seat. His brain suddenly seemed to be shrinking, his palms sweaty and his vision blurry. Thomas opened his mouth, the idea played out in his head, but he didn’t realize that no voice came out of his mouth until the MD said, “yes, Mr Thomas? You have something to say?”  After a few failed attempts, he finally managed to say, “No sir, I need to go to the restroom.”

    Poor dear Mr. Thomas! There are several people like him you know? Some people just have phobia for speaking in public no matter where. Some people cannot even express their views among their friends not to mention total strangers. If you happen to fall into that category or you know someone in that category, our current series is for you. On the other hand, some people consider themselves as good speakers, only that they don’t like emergency speaking. “Why should anybody call me to speak without prior notice?” They would say. They can’t handle that. Some other people will even throw caution to the wind and say, “they should know better. For them to have called on me suddenly, they must be willing to put up with my rambling.”

    I believe there is no excuse for failure. You ought to do your best at all times. Think of it, if you are called unexpectedly to make a comment at a gathering, and you put up a poor performance, no one would care whether or not you were informed ahead of time. So, why don’t you just accept that you must always be prepared? Instead of spending most of your time praying that you should not be called, be proactive and prepare ahead. Try these two suggestions:

    • Place value on your own ideas: If you are ever called to give an impromptu speech, it is because people believe you have something to say. Some people who fear impromptu speaking have inferiority complex! They believe there is nothing they can say that is worth listening to. We would be making a big mistake if we thought Mr. Thomas’ problem was all about speaking. No! His problem started with his mind. He conditioned himself to believe that the more invisible he was the better. However, he was wrong wasn’t he? He was so intelligent that he figured out, and in a short while, what took the rest of the team several minutes to unravel. Before he can become a visible contributor instead of an invisible incubator, he has to work on his self perception. I’m not teaching you pride, heavens no! However, you need to know that your brilliant ideas are of no use if not shared. The first step to giving successful impromptu speeches is to believe you have something valuable to say.

    • Prepare mentally: any time you are in a gathering in which you are likely to be asked to speak, mentally prepare ahead. Condition your mind so that it doesn’t come as a surprise. Opportunities may arise in classroom lectures, group discussions, religious programmes, public discussions, management meetings, you name it. No matter the occasion, decide to make contributions that will improve the quality of the subject. This doesn’t mean that you must speak always; just be ready in case you are called, or speak up if you have brilliant ideas.

  • Some of our patients are celebrities

    Some of our patients are celebrities

    —Natural healers who treat mentally-ill persons

    THE house where Lateef Folami, otherwise known in the neighborhood as Owo Omo Ajona, kept his patients has no permanent address. It was a derelict edifice, originally built of mud but later coated with cement. On the outside, it was difficult to determine the real occupants of the house as there was nothing to distinguish it from the other houses in the community.

    In this part of Orile- Ifo, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, everything came to a standstill by mid-day this particular day; even the wind appeared to stop for a moment. The only evidence of life was the bleating of the goats and the happy voices of the children engaged in studious pursuit five houses away, violating the suffocating silence in the neighborhood.

    Inside Folami’s house, two solitary figures laid on a mat in the short, dimly lit corridor. It was a four-room bungalow; three of the rooms were shut, while the door of the last was slightly ajar. A peep through the door revealed a figure lying on a mat, fast asleep.

    Folami entered the house through the back door. The evidence of recent sanitation was obvious as the house smelt of heavy use of antiseptic. The floor was clean and one could not find a trace of dirt on it. Clean and neatly arranged cooking utensils were stalked at one corner while brooms and dusters stood facing it. As he climbed the short stairs, he yelled at one of the sleeping figures identified as Femi to bring a stool.

    Welcome to the world of Folami, one of the most prominent herbalists with special skills in curing those plagued by insanity. As a high ranking member of the local mental health doctors in Ogun State, he has a sparkling reputation and long experience behind him. But Folami is not your regular herbalist, he is a practising Muslim who is also well versed in Christian doctrines and has perfected the use of herbs and leaves to treat just one form of sickness: lunacy.

    He is also a retired soldier with number 63NA209286 and had seen action during the Nigerian civil war where he served at various times under Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo. Folami’s services to his father land came at a price too.

    “Look here, this is a bullet wound and on my leg too. I didn’t know I wouldn’t die at the front but because God has ordained me to do a great work for Him, He kept me alive,” Folami said, removing his shirt to reveal a deep and ugly gash on his neck and leg.

    Femi came out of the house and placed a long bench on the ground. He is a lanky fellow, fair in complexion with a pleasant, almost beautiful face. He wore a dirty black shirt and brown trousers. But despite the poverty of his clothes, his skin appeared clean and his nails were cut and neat. He dusted the bench with his right hand and as he made to leave, Folami called him back and interrogated him.

    “Do you know this man?” He asked pointing to the reporter.

    A small cloud crept into Femi’s face as he struggled with his memory. After about 40 seconds, he replied in the negative.

    “You have not seen him before?” Folami persisted.

    “No,” Femi maintained.

    “Is he a man or a woman?” Folami asked again.

    “He is a man,” Femi said and he was dismissed. A smile of contentment crept into Folami’s face as he watched Femi lay on the floor again in the semi darkness of the corridor. The other figure did not stir.

    Femi has been at the Folami herbal home for eight months. According to the healer, he was brought by his family after he suddenly went mad one afternoon. For about a year, he was taken to many specialist hospitals, a situation which exhausted the fortunes of his family. Eventually, he was brought to Folami, “stark, raving mad.”

    But after just eight months of being subjected to Folami’s special concoctions, Femi has shown remarkable improvements and he now acts as the ‘captain’ of the other patients and sometimes as Folami’s personal assistant.

    Femi told The Nation that he used to live in Ayobo Ipaja area in Lagos and had attended a federal secondary school. He, however, does not remember the circumstances that brought him to the home but regarded Folami as a father and protector.

    Presently, there are eight patients under Folami’s care; 14 others were discharged in August after being certified fit and proper by Folami. Five of the current patients were not in when The Nation visited as they had gone out to beg for alms. This is one disturbing aspect of Folami’s work: using his patients to beg for alms. All over the city and even in Lagos, some of his patients could be seen led by a guardian roaming the streets to beg. Most of the time, the patients maintained a stoic silence, while the guardian solicited on their behalf.

    But Folami defended his methods. “I have very little help and I am not using my patients to enrich myself. Those who go out to beg have been abandoned by their families and that is the only way I can feed them. Also, I ensure they are well enough before they venture outside and they always have one of my assistants to lead them. They are not a threat to the public in any way,” he said.

    Treating insanity

    The secrets of the cure for insanity had been passed down from Folami’s grandfather who taught him the art in 1954. When he left the army in 1978, he went to France and resided there for seven years, but was constantly troubled in a vision to return home to practise the art of his grandfather. Eventually in 1995, he began by chasing mad people on the streets and forcefully taking them in for treatment. After curing them, he would take them out to the street to beg for alms.

    Using this method, he chased patients all over Nigeria and even to Benin Republic, after which he decided to settle in Ifo, Ogun State.

    Folami uses pure herbs to treat his patients. He claims he has a special way of using everyday leaf in determining the cause of the madness. The cure for insanity caused by drugs or other natural causes, according to him, is different from those caused by terrestrial powers, but leaves and herbs are primary ingredients in the cure.

    “I use only herbs for them; I source the leaves around here, I use nothing diabolical. When they come, there is a particular herb I use that would make them sleep for three days. When I treat them for six months, they will be well but I will monitor them for another three months to control their temper so they can re-adjust to the society,” he said.

    Femi was summoned to bring a keg of herbs. On opening it, a strong smell of gin erupted. Folami took a glass and poured a small quantity, which he offered to the reporter but was politely declined. Then he drank the portion and acknowledged its powers by a strong squeeze of his face. Femi smiled.

    “This is what they drink every morning after we have finished ‘morning devotion.’ Then they can start their daily chores. They sweep, wash their clothes, fetch water and cook. In six months, they are well enough, cured of insanity. The orthodox hospital just suppressed the illness, I cure it completely,” he boasted.

    Folami has varied clients. He claimed to have cured many politicians and other important members of the society. One of his former patients, he said, was a former school principal; another was a church leader. Some of his patients are now married and some have relocated to other parts of the country unable to face the shame of their past illness. The Nation called two of them now residents of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State and they all claimed to be well and doing well in their businesses.

    Folami’s neighbours in the community look upon him favourably despite the nature of his business. According to Chief I. Bamigbose, the community has no problems with Folami or his line of business.

    “We don’t have any problem with him since he has been here. Everything is fine, you won’t even hear a sound from this house, and they are very peaceful.”

    Inside Ifo’s mental home

    Inside the house at 38, Cooker Road, Ifo, Chief Ibukun Sokunbi was in conference with two of his trusted aides. He is a tall man who kept a bushy beard and round moustache. The house itself was built of mud and had a long corridor which opened up at the end into an open space.

    Another house was built at the end of the open space. This is where Sokunbi has his office and attended to his visitors. Outside the house, a proud sign read: “Ibukun Olu Herbal Home.” Shokunbi greeted the reporter and brought out a bottle of snuff and a half empty bottle of shinnaps, which he offered to his visitor. He politely declined it on the excuse that he was fasting.

    Shokunbi is a new entrant into the world of mental healing having spent only about four years in the trade. But his clientele ranges from high profile members of the society to business men.

    There were two patients in the clinic when The Nation visited. One was referred to as ‘FM’ and the other Lekan. According to Sokunbi, ‘FM’ was a university graduate who ran mad after a spell was cast on him but has since been showing signs of improvement, while Lekan’s case could be traced to drug abuse. Shokunbi was confident of his skills and he asked the reporter to interview them.

    ‘FM’ was a rather pleasant fellow and except for the chain on his legs, he could pass for a school teacher. He had a flask of food in his hand and begged for money to buy food.

    “I think we have met before, around Badagry area?” ‘FM’ said and extended a hand which was soft and cold. When the reporter replied in the negative, he persisted.

    “We have met before, where do you live?”

    “I live in Ikeja,” the reporter replied and ‘FM’s face brightened as he declared: “Yes, I remember now, we met at the computer village, how is the computer village now? It’s a long time I went there.”

    ‘FM’ spoke with such conviction and sincerity that the reporter began to imagine he had met him before. But when he replied again in the negative, ‘FM’ appeared confused for a moment, then asked where the reporter was working before asking for money to buy breakfast.

    “I am fine, I am fine, nothing is wrong with me, things are okay,” ‘FM’ said without any prodding.

    Lekan sat in the ante-room of Shokunbi’s office. The room had no window and a section of the roof had caved in. He had a big chain on his legs which was tied to a big stone beside him. Two big padlocks completed the shackles on his feet. He was a young man, about 20 years old, with the ruby face of a youth. When asked why he was packlocked so securely, Shokunbi said he had attempted to run away a week earlier.

    During cross examination by Shokunbi and the reporter, Lekan said he was a rewire when he was suddenly taken from his house and brought to the home. But Shokunbi told a different story. He said the patient was involved in drugs which had affected his sanity and he was given to violent reactions. His family had taken him all over orthodox hospitals before finally ending with him. Shokunbi claimed Lekan has shown remarkable improvements since he began his treatments using special herbal preparations.

    Lekan remained rooted in his seat during the 10-minute interview. He expressed hope that he would be able to go home as soon as he was well enough. He said he was appreciative to Shokunbi for his treatment.

    Meanwhile, ‘FM’ had seated himself, still clutching the food flask; Shokunbi put a hand on his shoulders and asked how he was feeling. When he replied that he had not had his breakfast, someone gave him N100 and asked if he recognised the money. “Yes this is Obafemi Awolowo; this is N100,” he replied.

    Big dream, little hope

    “My vision is to build a mental home where we can have a clinic and rehabilitation home for those who have been cured. We will have a farm where we can rear animals for sale during festival times and plant what we will eat. That home will be self-sustaining and those who want will be able to work with the local government as cleaners and clerks before they return to the home after work.”

    Folami was caught up with sharing his vision which, compared to his present circumstances, looked bleak. With little or no fund and clients’ inability to pay big money for his services, the future which he has dreamt of may just remain a dream. “There was a land we got for N1.8 million but couldn’t raise the money. I have written to many people to support this vision but got no response, but I will not give up,” he said.

    There are immediate challenges facing Folami and Shokunbi mental homes. Every day needs like soap, sleeping mats, clothes and foodstuffs except yam and okro are welcome at the homes.

    Folami said: “I appeal to Nigerians to support this vision; we need help to treat the patients. Many of them are destitute persons but we can rehabilitate them with your help.”

    As Folami made to leave the house again, he called Femi and left instructions. “If anybody asks after me, say I will soon be back. Lock the door and don’t go anywhere.” Femi replied from inside the house accepting the responsibility; he did not stir from his mat.

  • Mental health: Tips for preserving a healthy mind

    Are you interested in how you can maintain a healthy mind to keep your body healthy?

    These are practical tips for maintaining a healthy mind

    •Make sure you’re getting enough rest- Sleep is the body’s way of recharging, meaning that sleep doesn’t only increase your energy—it actually boosts your mental health.

    •Forgive yourself for past mistakes – Messing up is a part of life, and mental health requires understanding that and moving past mistakes in our lives. Is there a mistake or regret that eats at you? Let. It. Go.

    •Find a good support system – Whether family, friends, a church, or something else, find a group of people who are willing to love you for who you are. This boosts resilience and helps to provide perspective in the midst of stress and pain.

    •Eat healthy – Invest time in learning which kinds of foods bring you “up” and which kinds bring you “down.” Committing to a diet can make you feel good about yourself, give you a sense of self-improvement, and boost your sense of accomplishment.

    •Exercise – Regularly exercising can help to cut back stress in your life, releasing pent up energy as you work your body. Exercise releases endorphins, chemicals in the brain that energize us.

    •Leave some time for leisure – Make sure you allow time in your schedule for whatever causes you to relax. Maybe it’s watching movies or completing crossword puzzles or walking outside. Make time for the things you know relax you.

    •Stay away from drugs and alcohol – When you consume cigarettes, illegal drugs, and alcohol, these drugs tamper with your mental health, decreasing mental stability and giving you false positive emotions.

    •Commit to helping others – You can build self-esteem and self-worth by regularly pouring out your energy and talents to help others. Volunteering is another activity that releases endorphins, boosting your mood.

    •Learn something new – Part of what makes us human is our tendency to challenge ourselves. Challenge yourself to learn something new— maybe a new skill, sport, or game.

    •Find a good listener, and return the favour – Find one person who is willing to listen to you vent and talk freely. It can also relieve stress to form a listening partnership, where the two of you share on a regular basis.

    •Make the decision not to worry – Worry will consume your mind if you let it, but you can also train yourself to avoid worry, to choose a life without anxiety. Ask God to help you not to worry.

    •Do things that engage your senses – Each day, perform one task that engages each of your senses: sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste. Engaging your senses helps you to live in the moment and focus on the present.

    •Leave time for nothing – Make sure your schedule has a little room for free time: time that is unbudgeted. Use that time for meditation, prayer, or relaxation exercises.

    •Cut out late-night TV and computer use – Studies have shown that watching TV and using a computer late at night can cause depressive symptoms.

    •Work to understand what stresses you – Understand your stressors and be able to recognize how you need to react. Be informed about what is happening in your mind and body.

    •Give and receive compliments – Find reasons to praise people, and be willing to accept people’s praises of you. This will help you to appreciate the good in those around you and recognize it in yourself.

    •Leave time to laugh – Try to laugh hysterically every day. Feed yourself funny things, allowing your mind to decompress from time to time.

    •Accept that there are some things you cannot change – A lot of anxiety stems from trying to change things beyond our control. Recognizing that some things are beyond our control is a key to a healthy, anxiety-free mind.

    •Talk to God about where you’re at – Interact with God in prayer on a daily basis and allow God to be a part of your stress-reduction strategy. He’s been doing it for thousands of years—He’s got a little more practice than you do.

  • Internet addiction, a mental health condition

    Internet addiction, a mental health condition

    Helen Obiageli Oshikoya read Law, Politics and Economics at St Mary’s Hall in Oxford. She came back to Nigeria and did Law conversion, LLB at the Lagos State University (LASU) and worked with Mobil and Bristol Helicopters before going into mental health and psycho educational learning. Yetunde Oladeinde speaks with Oshikoya, who is the initiator of Nobelova Gradiani, about her passion and more.

     

    WHY did you opt for Law?

    I read Law because I wanted to please my parents. I wanted to be a teacher, an actress or anything that would let me express myself and have people around me. I was the only child for about 7 years. There was a time that I used to buy friends; I did everything possible just to have friends. At the end of the day, I realised that this was not what I needed.

    Tell us about your parents and how they influenced your life?

    My father, Col. P.A Aniekwe, went to Sandhurst. He was in the Biafran army and he later joined the Nigerian army after the civil war. My mother is half Irish (mum) while her father is from the ruling family of the Obong of Calabar. She worked with the Ministry of Agriculture where she was in control of the presidential livestock. She has retired now but she still does things in this area.

    Which was your first job?

    I went to work in Mobil and I was in the legal department for about 18 months. From there I went to Bristol helicopters in the United States where my step father is the chairman. I later did my masters in social science specialising in core social science subject which is a Child Development Mental Healthcare, Juvenile Delinquency, Probational Services, Educational Learning Assessment in the Open University, Milton Keys in the United Kingdom and I graduated in 2005.

    I am a member of the Nigerian Psychological Association, British Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association and certified to perform both clinical and educational assessments. I have provided hospitals, schools and establishments with the best in developmental, educational and psychometric tests; also provided interventions and workforce engage programmes that really work.

    At what point did you go into psycho-educational services?

    It started off as a tutorial service thing called SIM (Success is Mind). What I had in mind was to help children overcome challenges in learning. After a while, I noted that there was no amount of techniques that could help, they weren’t helped developmentally. So I plotted a team that would watch children from the hospital up to the end of their education.

    Basically track them developmentally and surveying the child. What happened was that I needed to construct a team. So I looked at the system and the way it was done in the UK. From the pediatrician to a development therapist like myself. If there is a challenge with development, then a psychiatrist is required but if it’s educational then it is a therapist.

    So I sourced around for the best in those areas and pulled them together. I first went into a partnership called Success is Mind (SIM) psycho-educational services. Along the line, the vision became more diversified and I created another called Nobelova Gradani that has more areas. Here I pulled expertise from the United Kingdom and America.

    What was the focus here?

    We actually focused on three needs in the society and the first is development surveillance. This is the process where we check children in hospitals to see that children are developing well, through developmental screening to check development delays and disorders. The most severe case is the autism stage. Autism is a group of development brain disorders collectively called autism spectrum disorders.

    There are five of them and they are termed pervasive disorders. These include classified Autism, Aserger, Pervasive Developmental Disorder PDNO, Retts Disorder and the Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. It depends on which area the child falls on. Initially, they start off as a delay and it takes a while before the child is declared Autistic.

    What’s the difference between Autism and Cerebral Palsy?

    Cerebral palsy arises as a result of some brain trauma either during pregnancy or after the child has been born. It results in the way that some parts of the body are not coordinating well. The child has learning disability or inability to speak too.

    So what are some of the challenges you face doing this?

    The challenges I face include awareness about the screening and a lot of parents have not been told the dangers of not screening their children. Five in every 100 kids are on the Autism spectrum and the numbers are increasing. The attitude here is if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. We are not into preventive but we need to reduce the impact of the outcome. It’s a lifelong thing and it renders the child to be totally dependent on others. There is also the ignorance between mental health and mental illness.

    Do you restrict your coverage to children?

    We extend beyond children and we graduate to schools where we have school health units. We make sure that the children are healthy. Unfortunately, many think that because a child does not have physical impairment, then he is okay. For instance, a child that has autism may not look it but the child is not well enough for learning.

    The UBE initiative of 2004 says that every child has the right to health in spite of the child’s health. We do eye, ear, scoliosis, dental and screening for learning disabilities. We also moved in from psychological well being to mental health that includes adolescents and adults.

    We have a lot of traffic here; a lot of adolescents and adults who have mid-life crisis, matrimonial issues, suppressed memories of sexual abuse and domestic violence. There are some conditions that need treatment, going to church alone can’t do it. For Autism, there are some supervised medications that must be taken. Parents should stop seeking counselling from people who are not qualified.

    Can you tell us about one or two cases that you handled?

    There was an instance of a child who could not talk properly and it was misdiagnosed as autism. We did screening and discovered that he had a speech and language disorder. Interventions were put into place and today he can talk. I also worked with a child who had Down syndrome and it was so profound that she was not meant to walk till she was 10 years old. She was about three years at that point and after working with her, she walked six months after. We have the inclusion unit at Leaves Green, Magodo and King’s School, Gbagada. The learning support units are normal education unit in mainstream schools. Here they get normal education with their therapy.

    Do you have current figures?

    Well, for Autism, one in a hundred kids is affected while you have 5 in 100 for adolescence. While the mental conditions are as a result of environmental factors like peer pressure, sexual abuse, drug addiction, as well as internet addiction and addiction to pornography. The 2013 mental health act now has included addiction to internet as a mental health condition. In China they have centres that deal with this and you have children where no matter what they cannot detach themselves from cartoon, chatting and browsing without destinations. It is a growing concern and it should be taken seriously. It creates anti-social behaviour and when a child does this they are fertile ground for people sourcing for children to be used as sleeping cells for terrorism.

    The internet is designed to pull in children that are anti-social, captivate them, keep them intrigued and make them believe that they can’t do without it. That is how terrorists capture them. For instance, Facebook says you must be over 15 years to open an account but a lot of parents open accounts for their kids. These days when children go to parties and are faced with peers on the same table they can chat with, they ping instead and you have low self-esteem. Low self-esteem is a mental health problem. The criteria for mental health are very wide and in Nigeria, almost everyone is at risk.

    How would you describe the Boko Haram crisis in this context?

    For someone to sit down and plot to kill is something else. I don’t believe that such a person is well. It still comes to the issue of anti-social behaviour as seeds for mental health. You need to have predisposing conditions or factors. There are some behaviours that are not normal like being eccentric, violence, suppression, hatred and segregation.

    They all create fertile ground for people with violent ideologies to penetrate. We need to protect our children. Drugs and alcohol are known to kids but they cannot see the psycho damage and mental health. You need to have predisposing conditions or factors.

    I am working on a book titled, “My personal childhood development surveillance records”. It is a book which monitors children’s development and it has the development screening in it. When the baby is born, the book is given to mother to write vital information about the baby. Most times, you find that mothers of children who have brain damage can’t tell you if the baby cried or not. If the baby didn’t cry, it means that the child may have lost oxygen. When I had my daughter, her lungs weren’t working and some emergency measures were used. I was hemorrhaging and she had to be resuscitated. Time is of essence. Mothers must be knowledgeable and ask about the birth process. You have the right to ask. Unfortunately, when you ask parents whose kids have problems fundamental questions they usually have no answers.

  • Reflections on mental health day

    Reflections on mental health day

    SIR: Yesterday October 10, was World Mental Health Day. The Nigerian Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted between 2001 and 2003 found that about 12 percent of adults in the population have had at least one episode of mental illness in their lifetime, while about six percent have had it over the last one year. These are relatively low rates, reflecting the considerably high level of stigma-induced denial in these climes (The World Health Organization estimates that one in every four persons will be affected by a mental disorder at some stage of his or her life).

    Nevertheless the reported 12 percent rate corresponds to a whopping 20million Nigerians, and among those of them who had seriously disabling illness, only about eight percent had received treatment in the preceding year. Given that the majority of mental disorders (77% in the Nigerian survey) occur in mild forms, most cases go undetected for years. Millions are burdened by distressing anxiety, obsessions, mood disorders, paranoia and other internal difficulties, and they must devote considerable mental energy toward maintaining a semblance of normalcy while trying to cope with the pressures of everyday living.

    In a society like ours, “keeping it all together” becomes a compelling distraction on which affected persons must expend precious innate reserves of resilience, which insidiously takes its toll in the form of declining work performance, strained inter-personal relationships and compromised physical health.

    Eventually, one final misfortune like loss of a job, a divorce or maybe an armed robbery attack – all traumatic events from which most healthy people will get over–tips over an already crumbling psyche. Before they tear their clothes and run out naked into the streets, these troubled minds have expended great effort concealing internal distress. And unlike most physical illnesses for which a relatively brief period of medical or surgical treatment could restore the individual to normal functioning, mental illnesses tend to be chronic and run a protracted course that takes enormous toll on the emotional and socioeconomic well being of the both the sufferers and the family members caring for them. It’s a suffering that might have been prevented by timely recognition and intervention in the early stages of illness, instead we end up paying a costly price for denial and wilful ignorance.

    The federal government espouses a noble vision of Nigeria becoming one of the 20 leading global economies by the year 2020. Whether such a lofty target is achieved or not, continued economic growth will eventually see us make the transition to at least a middle income country. WHO estimates suggest that depressive illness will become the leading cause of disease burden at the time, exceeding Malaria, HIV/AIDS and the like. Already, mental illness is responsible for the most years of healthy living lost due to disease and premature mortality in the developed world.

    We must begin to face up to the reality of an increasing burden of mental illness in the populace. It tends to occur in varying shades and degrees, and already is far more prevalent than is immediately apparent. The milder forms though ubiquitous mostly go unrecognized, yet constitute fault-lines of the mind which compromise personal productivity and social harmony. Those moderately affected live and work amongst us all, perpetually labouring under a defect of reason. Alarmingly, a good number make it into political office and their distorted cognition is a mist that beclouds sane judgment. Call this deformation professionelle or what you will, but the jeopardized ability to love and to work is the elephant in the room whose inevitable growth may choke our forward march as a nation.

     

    • Dr. Walter Nzeakah

    Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta