A group, Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), and Health Circle Concept Initiative (HCCI), a non-governmental organization, yesterday, cautioned the people, particularly the youths in the region, against health challenges to avoid dying in silence.
At the event, Mental Health Summit 2024, in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) held in Asaba, Delta State, the Convener and National Chairman, NDYC Worldwide, Mr. Jator Abido, said there was need to address all health stressors, saying: “Good mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood”. Abido said with the theme: “Breaking the Silence: Uniting for Mental Wellness”, there was need for the people to take care of their health given the present economic, social, environmental, biological, psychological factors among other stressors that impact the people of the region.
He said: “We can better support the mental health of young people and foster a healthier, more resilient future generation if addressed their health challenges with comprehensive, and multi-faceted solutions.”
“Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
“The main concepts of mental health include emotional well-being, psychological well-being, and social well-being. While social factors include the quality of relationships, social support networks, cultural influences, discrimination, and societal stigma”.
“Lifestyle factors encompass diet, physical activity, substance use, sleep patterns, and overall self-care practices, all of which can impact mental well-being”, he explained
The Chairman of the event, Chairman, NDDC, Mr Chiedu Ebie, said that it was apt to sensitize the youths on mental health to encourage healthy living in the society.
Ebie, who spoke through his Senior Aide, Dr Godwin Edozie, said that mental health issue was a global challenge that has become necessary to sensitize them to live a healthy life.
He noted that both external and internal factors were responsible for mental health challenges in society today but advised that people should regularly visit their doctors to check their health status.
Also speaking, Chairman, Board of Trustee (BOT), NDYC Worldwide, Mr Beke Apere, advised that people should speak out on challenges, to keep off stress, depression and other stressors that cause mental health problems.
“Again because of depression, some persons will opt for drugs to suppress it and when they get addicted to it, it can lead to mental health disorder”, he said.
