Mental Health: NGO Preaches Periodic Check-Ups

Secure-D-Future International Initiative (SDF), an NGO, has advised Nigerians to embrace periodic mental health check-ups to help tackle the increasing suicide and depression rate in the country.

Mrs. Sa’adatu Adamu, the Founder of the organization, gave the advice during the second Abuja Counsellors Summit and Expo in Abuja, titled “Assessment, Method, and Application of Counselling”.

Adamu said counseling was very important as it tends to focus on helping deviants in society and tackles the increasing suicide and depression rate in the country.

According to her, mental health comes in any form and leads to depression, suicide, and self-harm.

“It is important for Nigerians to embrace mental check-ups and engage in therapy.

“Counselling is very important because counselors work in rehabilitation centres, welfare offices, schools, and hospitals in our communities.

“If you hear the stories we get regularly from schools, you will know that there is a need to really have these professionals around us.

“We hear stories of dysfunctional families, where children pick little things they see from other children and begin to act on them.

“I believe that counseling is very important in every aspect of our life; parents and children need counseling and we need to shun stigmatizing mental health patients,” she said.

However, she called on parents to develop a good channel of communication and relationships with their children to enable them to know their mental health status for a better future.

The founder also said there were lots of mental health issues in society, hence the need for government to come up with policies that could address the same in the country.

The Chairperson of, the Summit Committee, Mrs. Hasiya Adamu-Biu, said there was a need for every Nigerian to always consult a counselor whenever they are faced with challenges.

Adamu-Biu maintained that there are issues in Nigeria that affect our mental state, which is temporary and could be addressed by visiting a mental health counselor within us.

According to her, there is a new mental health and Counsellors Act aimed at teaching counselors how to use their profession to help address mental health challenges in the country.

The Head of Department, Guidance and Counselling, FCT Education Research Centre (ERC) Laison Officer, Mr. Yahaya Abdulawahab, said the summit was aimed at training counselors to meet world best practices in the profession.

Abdulawahab said the government has developed an Occupational Interest Inventory in FCT schools, which counselors use to admit and place students in their appropriate subjects.

Credit: NAN.