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Tackling Depression among women in Nigeria

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7 Dec 2018 6:31 AM GMT
Tackling Depression among women in Nigeria
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Tackling Depression among women in Nigeria By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni Nnena Chibuzor, 28, became depressed after losing her husband four years ago and her husband’s Family accused her of having a hand in his death. Chibuzor says the situation has caused her sleepless nights as she often feels worthless and helpless. Chibuzor is among many, especially […]

Tackling Depression among women in Nigeria

By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni

Nnena Chibuzor, 28, became depressed after losing her husband four years ago and her husband’s
Family accused her of having a hand in his death.

Chibuzor says the situation has caused her sleepless nights as she often feels worthless and helpless.

Chibuzor is among many, especially women, who are traumatised by depression.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) in a report published in August, every 40 seconds a person dies by suicide globally because of depression.

The WHO further reports that 800,000 people die by suicide every year with more than 300
million people suffering from depression.

The Nigeria National Depression report 2018 says at least 60
million Nigerians are estimated to be at risk of suffering depression.

The Nigerian situation is linked to social factors, such as economic and cultural pressures.
But many do not know they are depressed.
A survey carried out by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) among 63 young widows to ascertain the major challenges they face shows majority of the respondents claiming they are dealing with depression.
In the survey, 88.5 per cent of the respondents say they are depressed, 63.9 per cent have low self-esteem, and 52.5 per cent have child care challenges.

Mrs Shola Oluwanuga, Chief Consultant Psychiatrist with National
Hospital, Abuja, describes depression as mood disorder that primarily
affects mood.

Oluwanuga says there are three core symptoms of depression – sad
mood, lack of interest in things that usually interest the person and
lack of energy.

She says a depressed person is always unhappy, not interested in their environment, lacks energy and always wishes to die.

According to her, statistics shows that women are more likely to be
depressed than men because they go through many hormonal changes
in life.

“One of the things women lose interest in while depressed is sex,
especially when they have so many kids to look after. The husband
instead of being compassionate begins to get irritated with her.

“Every night she is tired; until it gets severe when she starts
feeling worthless, having the wish to die that is when family tends to
get alert that she’s depressed.

Oluwanuga says children also face depression. She says that in the past such children were said to
have spiritual problem but with mental health awareness, people have realised that is a medical problem.
.
The consultant advises parents to spend more quality time with their families rather than spend time chatting on phone which
affects children’s upbringing.

Mr Adedotun Ajiboye, a clinical psychologist with the
Mental Health Department, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital,
Ado-Ekiti, says depression ranges from mild to moderate and severe.

Ajiboye says if handled quickly, the condition never gets severe.

“If somebody has mild depressive episode, the psychologist employs
the talking cure without prescribing drugs, which is done in a
standard hospital.

“But the moment the depression has entered into the moderate
depressive episode that is when the patient needs to take a drug
called anti-depressant, which should be given by a psychiatrist.

“Then for the severe episode of depression, automatically, that
person needs drugs and can even be admitted in hospital because such a
person can become suicidal and can take his or her life.

According to him, symptoms of depression are suicidal idea or
thought, loss of appetite which can lead to hypoglycemia,
psychological stress, sleeplessness, sadness, feeling of hopelessness
and helplessness.

“Depression drains hope, energy and thinking faculty; it can lead to
death, if not quickly arrested.’’

He says women are more liable to depression
than men because of biological, psychological and social factors.

Ajiboye explains that oestrogen hormones which play vital roles in the menstrual and menopausal experiences of women
predispose them to depression.

“Psychologically, a lot of inner disturbing thoughts a woman goes
through can make her more prone to depression than a man.

“In fact, most of these inner disturbing thoughts are not ventilated;
rather they are repressed, leading to mental health conditions such as
depression.

“A man can easily ventilate his feelings or disturbing thoughts more
than women.’’

Ajiboye adds that women are faced with a lot of cultural and
marital issues, including domestic violence and sexual abuse,
which make them more prone to depression.

He says a depressed patient requires adequate support from the
family and loved ones for continuous healing process after discharge
from hospital.

Dr. Daniel Ajogbon, Consultant Psychiatrist, Federal Medical
Centre Lokoja, attributes the rising cases of depression to unemployment, sickness, unpaid salaries, lack of confidants, broken homes, bereavement and loneliness.

Ajogbon, says he attends to five to 10 depressed patients per week and that in on month, he had two severe causes of depression
with two patients slicing their throats.

Oluwanuga says: “When a person is depressed, one of the things the person needs is
understanding, a listening ear. If the person is suddenly withdrawn
and does not talk again, he or she loses interest in things.

“Once you recognise that there is a problem get help.
It is not a permanent thing and it is very treatable. Sometimes, all the person needs
especially with mild depression, might be counselling.“

Ajogbon adds that for depression to reduce among women, they need to
work outside their homes and have confidants that they can talk to.

Chibuzor feels that: “Families should stop thinking and saying that the surviving spouse
had a hand in the death of the partner. Losing a loved one is already tough
and hearing side talks from in-laws makes it more difficult.

“Re-orientation in thinking, having free trauma centres for
widows would help. Honestly, mine has been over four years and I
still have suicidal thoughts sometimes, like I should pass out
literally.“

Source: NAN

Photo Source: Google

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