By Aminat Babatunde
Officer- in -charge of Omupo Cottage hospital in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Dr. Bakare Ismail Afolabi has identified stress as one of the causes of depression.
Afolabi while delivering a health talk to mark the 2019 Press week of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin, on Tuesday, said journalists because of the nature of their job are vulnerable to stress.
“As journalists, you need to do more in managing stress. Stress is the number one on the factor for mental health in journalists, “he said.
Highlighting the symptoms of stress, the medical expert said chronic stress could be said to be setting in when there is a “rise in heart beat, blood sugar and rise in adrenaline level.
He listed the causes of stress to include among other factors,” uncertainty in political dispensation, poverty, social issues and economic problems.
For proper management of stress, the medical expert counselled journalists and Nigerians to develop a positive attitude to life.
“We should have belief that all will be well, know your limit, know that this is the level you can go. Consider your health first, be assertive, be optimistic, learn to say no and be realistic to yourself.”
He said home management of stress could also be achieved by consuming oath meals, cereals, cabbage, smoked fish and also engaging in coordinated exercise which he said will also prevent memory loss especially at old age.
He however expressed concern over rising cases of depression prevalent amongst rural women.
He said research being conducted by the hospital at the Psychiatric unit indicated that more women are being diagnosed with depression in the hospital.
“From what we have seen, depression seems to be number one case of rural women.
“There are lots of things that affect women that we are not paying attention to. We are just paying leap service to it. Women need empowerment, we need laws, we need advocacy that will support the cause of women,” he said.
