Nigeria the retired giant of Africa currently boast of a population of well over 200 million people, has a young people’s act that states that childhood ends at age 14. Research also states that about 23 percent of Nigeria’s population falls in the dictionary definition of been a youth.
According to a study carried out by WHO ‘’half of mental illnesses begins at the age of 14 and goes undetected and untreated’’. Depression which is been dubbed as the TRENDY KILLER contributes to an alarming number in the cause of death amongst youths. A crazy amount of suicides and suicidal attempts that have occurred so far in Nigeria has ties to this TRENDY KILLER ,with life altering events such as financial loss, bereavement, alcohol abuse, drug consumption and cyber bullying leading the pathway to contribute to the spike of depression in Nigeria amongst youths.
With only 150 psychologist in the mental health space in Nigeria, funds and access to treatment been virtually none existing, the cancel culture on mental illnesses, Nigerian youths are being coerced into thinking that Depressing thoughts are for the lazy at heart or has a spiritual undertone to it.
Nigerian youths should be aware that Depression is not just for the Millionaires club , it’s something that affects all individual irrespective of their financial status or color of skin.
If you haven’t fought a battle with depression in your life and won, you will not know how to relate to this.
As a youth myself, I would say it is hard to define depression as there is no practical way to explain all it entails. I have broken my wrist, hand, leg several times but nothing comes close to the feeling of having a thick cloud overshadowing you, penetrating into your thoughts, your limbs and filling you with despair, hopelessness and indescribable loss.
You crave for inner peace to still the storm but you can’t find it. Your relationship with friends and family gets damaged, you begin to lose sleep, you torture yourself, you feel mentally drained, you rack your brain and you put yourself through immense punishment. You wonder why God is not answering your prayers or listening to your pleas for help. It feels like a cloak is covering your very soul.
This trendy killer sometimes is a blessing in disguise, as silly as it may sound: Depression kills but can also be a best friend.
I discovered that the most important messages are those that we don’t want to hear. I discovered in my way that depression is a message from your body informing you of a problem which requires urgent solution. Whenever I feel that shadowy thought clouding my mind, I always look deep into myself and force myself to look for answers and seek succor in the company of trusted loved ones and trust me it works!!!
For that youth reading this or if you know someone depressed, I want to encourage you that THERE IS NO SAFETY IN BEING HIDDEN, GOING THROUGH THE BATTLE OF DEPRESSION ALONE IS A TICKING BOMB WAIING TO EXPLODE. YOU ARE TOO PRECIOUS,THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE YOU.
YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE UNIQUE, YOU CAN OVERCOME & ALL YOU ARE GOING THROUGH IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU STRONGER, BETTER AND GREATER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.
Trust a young man who knows what it feels like to be depressed-
IT DOESN’T LAST & EVENTUALLY YOU WILL DISCOVER INNER PEACE, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN A PLACE THAT WILL ENABLE YOU WALK INTO THE WORLD WITH YOUR HEAD HELD UP HIGH.
THE WORLD WILL NO LONGER BE A FRIGHTENING PLACE FOR YOU.
IT HELPS TO OPEN UP TO A LOVED ONE OR A PROFESSIONAL.
REMEMBER BE COURAGEOUS!!!
TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND SEEK HELPPLEASE TALK TO SOMEONE TODAY.
BE BRAVE FOREVER.
AATO
