Emotions Doctor, Alabi, talks effect of COVID-19 on Mental health of Nigerians, Africans

Lead researcher and facilitator at Africa’s leading emotional intelligence centre, Emotions City, Oyinkansola Alabi has released a 10 page research work on the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of Nigerians and Africans in general.

While not much attention is paid to mental health at this time, Alabi has taken out time to outline the possible effects the ravaging pandemic is having in our economy. The research work which is available on www.emotionscity.products, highlighted the emergence of the virus, it’s spread and how it is affecting the various sectors in the economy and the world at large. It also seeks to address issues that affect the common man and how country leaders can ameliorate the hardship emanating from the pandemic.

Alabi who is popularly referred to as the Emotions Doctor, is the only female founder of an Emotional Intelligence Academy in Africa and is the convener of Africa’s first Emotional Intelligence Week.

According to the Cornell University-trained Human Resource Executive and Six Seconds Network Licensed Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, the research work will expose our priorities, including lack of basic infrastructure, non-existent healthcare and palliatives for citizens.

“COVID-19 has exposed our lack of investment in education, healthcare and mental health industry. We had several years to invest in them but we ignored the facts. We are now struggling to contain a pandemic.

“While the terms mental health and emotional illness are sometimes used interchangeably, they are distinctly different. Mental health refers to a measure of your state of mind while Mental illness affects your ability to function day to day. If we can understand the difference then we will remove the stigma around both.”

“I am regarded as a thought leader in the mental health and emotional stability space thus I am expected to give an informed decision of the effect of this pandemic on the soul. However, I wrote the article because quite a handful of people have reached out to me on my thoughts on this so I decided to document and share”, Alabi added.

Below is an excerpt from the research work:
To minimize mental health and emotional instability issues for parents, children and the families in general, the WHO (2020) guidelines suggest we amplify positive and hopeful stories of healings and recoveries. A report by Chu (2020) detailed some effective treatment measures like the injection of excess Dietary Reference Values (DRV), 1500 milligrams of Vitamin C intravenous(IV), anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, the azithromycin antibiotic and blood thinner. This resulted in a reduced length in the ICU and the patients were significantly better than those with no such medications (Chu, 2020). With more constant research still ongoing, the government taking similar measures could be vital when easing panic attacks and anxiety among its citizens.

African Presidents should also engage some financial alleviation measures on house rents, leases, loans, school fees, salaries, and basic supply of essential services for its citizens. People’s preservation should be the priority, not pocket preservation. Humanity must triumph corruption.