” There is a crack in everything that’s how the light gets in” – Leonard Cohen
Health does not only mean a person has to be physically fit. Mental fitness is also a form of good health. But it is so invincible that you might be wondering why. Well, this is due to the stigma attached to it. When someone is mentally ill, they think the person has to be mad or something, right? I used to think that too, as well. And I know a lot of us are guilty too.
According to the World Health Organization, about one billion people have mental health disorders and 75% don’t get treatment due to the horrendous label attached to them. And about 50 million Nigerians have mental health issues. I.e., 1 in 4 Nigerians has a mental health disorder.
“Mental health” is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their abilities and can cope with the normal stress of life.
A mental health disorder is not just one type of illness; it is a general term that is used to classify any disorder affecting mental stability. For example, anxiety is a type of mental disorder just like how malaria is a type of disease spread by mosquitoes.
Did you know that only seven psychiatric hospitals are available in Nigeria? This means that there are very few psychiatric specialists available. Wow! This is low compared to the number of hospitals for physical health. We put all the blame on the government. They have their faults, I agree, but we, the citizens, also share part of the problem. Let me explain. Most households in Nigeria will have parents who don’t value your mental health. Parents will say things like, “How can you have a mental health issue?” What are you thinking about? You don’t have a family yet. But they all seem to forget that we are also humans with our own emotions.
Mental health is invincible, but with awareness, our parents can have the right mindset.
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