Health

Don’t criminalise attempted suicide: Psychiatrist to FG

 

…says 3m Nigerians suffering depression

By Joke Adeniyi-Jackson

An Ilorin-based Psychiatrist, Dr. Ayo Omotosho has urged the Federal Government not to criminalise attempted suicide, stressing that depression is a mental illness.
Featuring on a Radio Kwara Programme, ‘Your Health and You,’ last Thursday, the medical expert said people suffering from depression deserve sympathy from government and members of the public.
He said: “Depression is like any other illness. Depression is like every health condition, people suffering from it should not be put behind bars for attempting suicide.”
He urged people around those suffering from depression to be supportive and render help where necessary to prevent them from being suicidal.
“The focus of depression is the behavioural aspect. Depression can lead to suicidal ideation and sometimes harming oneself. Depression could be said to be fracture of the mind.
“Those suffering from it have negative thought about themselves, the world around them and the future, because they have Depressive Cognition; they think differently,” he noted.
Omotosho, a lecturer with the University of Ilorin, decried the alarming rate of suicide in the country, just as he said about 3million Nigerians are currently suffering from depression.
On how to identify a person suffering from depression, the medical doctor said,
“You are depressed if your sadness lasts for about two weeks or more.”
Speaking on risk factors, Omotosho identified three ways in which a person can be predisposed to depression; namely biological, psychological and sociological factors (biopsychosocio factors).
He explained, “The biological reasons include genetics. If someone’s parents were depressed there is a higher chance that such person at some point in his or her life suffers depression.
“Then there may be interaction with hard substances, which may led to brain changes and which may predispose to mental health condition.
“For the psychological factor, people who are pessimistic may be more prone to depression, so also those with low esteem.”
The psychiatrist further explained that the sociological factor is triggered by life events such as losing job, negative or bad experiences.
“Significant things that happens to a person and he feels it is overwhelming and doesn’t talk about it may lead to depression,” he added.
The medical expert then called for responsible reporting of suicide cases by the media, urging for more awareness on prevention of depression.
“Avoid detailed and graphic reportage of suicide as it may lead to ‘copycat suicide’, which may lead to an increase in the rate of menace, ” he stated.
“Prevention is a major concern even among practitioners. There are some things you can’t prevent like the genes you were born with.
“Have healthy lifestyle and talk about whatever is on your mind at every time. See a specialist.
“Eat right, there are some certain food that have been identified to fight depression and good for the mood like salmon those foods that contains vitamin D that triggers happy hormones in the brain
“Have regular exercise and sleep. There is a relationship between sleep and mood; when you don’t sleep well so you are prone to be cranky during daytime, “he further said.

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