Lagos (Nigeria): Worried about the rate of drug abuse, suicide, and immoral behaviours in Nigeria, some mental health practitioners have canvassed the adoption of positive coping mechanisms in the face of life challenges.
The practitioners advised on Tuesday in Lagos, saying that no amount of life challenges would justify suicide or engagement in immoral acts.
According to them, suicide should not be an option in the face of life challenges since challenges are part of life.
The National Vice-President, Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria, Dr Veronica Nyamali, urged that life should be seen from a mixed angle of good, sweet, and evil.
Nyamali said that the country had many challenges, including economic hardships, making some people consider suicide, resort to drug abuse, or engage in immoral behaviours.
According to her, Nigerians should learn to take life easy and develop positive coping/adaptive mechanisms rather than consider suicide or drug abuse when faced with challenges.
The psychiatrist called for mental health education to make people understand that life would come with challenges.
“Since life is never free of challenges, there is no amount of life challenges that should make anyone take their life, abuse drugs, or engage in immoral acts.
“There is a need to change the mindset of Nigerians toward life to make them understand that life itself is full of challenges, and challenges are what pave the way for the success stories.
“Surrounding yourself with good people, sharing worries, speaking out, and seeking help are some positive coping options/mechanisms that can help in times of challenges,” she said.
A psychotherapist, Mrs Dedoyin Alabi, blamed suicide, drug abuse, and other vices on increased urban migration, which, she said, could cause an increase in psycho-social problems.
Alabi listed measures that could reduce the rate of the problems, including government interventions, reducing access to means of suicide, medications, early identification/treatment, and care of people with mental and substance use disorders.
“The federal and state governments should endeavour to have a programme that will allow people to talk about their health problems and other challenges that they face daily.
“This will provide a means of helping those who might want to attempt suicide. However, the best approach to combating suicide is to provide psychiatric help,” she said.
Contributing, a Pastor of Victory Holy Ghost Mission, Roseline Cyprian, said that there should be no reason for any human to take their life or illegally take the life of another person.
According to Cyprian, only God, who created human beings, has the right to take away life.
“Unfortunately, some people consider harmful coping mechanisms such as suicide when faced with life challenges.
“From the biblical point of view, it is against the word of God to commit suicide.
“Committing suicide also brings a curse to the family of the perpetrator.
Irrespective of the challenge people encounter, considering suicide should not be an option. It is better to hope in God.
“Do not take laws into your hands to end your life or go into drug abuse, no matter the situation,” Cyprian said.
