Coping With Mental Health Challenges, Especially During ..

Coping with mental health challenges has become a growing social issue, especially given the stress levels in the society. The stress level is a major fallout of the challenging economy and has brought with it a lot of other problems, especially mental health challenges. In this write-up however, the focus is how this is affecting undergraduates, especially when preparing for examinations.

It has become a worrying issue that each season of exams usually leave students too much anxiety and stress. This has a detrimental effect on their mental health, both now and in the future. According to experts, examination stress can lead to different mental illnesses like: depression and anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem, self-harming and suicidal thoughts and worsening of pre-existing mental health conditions.

A 30 year graduate of the University of Lagos UNILAG Akoka, who simply wants to be identified as Joan told our correspondent her encounter with mental health challenge. “I was combining school with work, because I needed to take care of myself, but it was not easy. Juggling the two, in addition to other obligations at home, brought me face to face with mental health challenge”, she said.

According to her, her manager was not ready for excuses, and her brother who was footing part of her bills also expected her to help out at home, to avoid complaints from the wife. “The first two years of the programme was traumatic. I hadn’t made friends in school, and had to struggle to be in class every evening because I was doing part time. To get to Akoka from Ijesha, my work location was not easy at all. “Sometimes, by the time I get to school, or two lectures would have gone”

Joan said she really was face to face with mental health challenge as the matter was eating her up. It was only when she got to 300 level, that the stress abated. There have been worrisome statistics involving life of teens who have come face to face with mental health challenges. Investigations show that many of such are triggered by undue pressures in the family, at school and with peer groups amongst others.

Anwuli Odika, a 21 year old operator of a Point of service (POS) outlet in Ogba, told The Eagle that, her life in the last one year had been characterised by pressures, trying to make ends meet.

“I am working to make some savings so that I can return to school my Higher National Diploma (HND). So, from Monday to Saturday, I resume work at 8am and close at 8pm. Some Sundays, I still help to style hairs to make additional money” Anwuli said this was unlike when she was still in Asaba with her parents.

Reports indicate the mental health challenge may be more prevalent than many people understand, especially because very few people can afford the resources to consult experts to know what their health challenges are.

That is why a number of organisations are beginning to develop more attention to it, finding out the health statuses of people they engage, and also doing trainings and sessions on mental health challenges for others already working..

Some private universities are known to prioritising sports and other extra-curricular activities that reduce stress levels. This is with the aim of helping students be in control of their emotions and health. According to report, the practice has made much difference, especially in helping to reduce the level of depression.

A nurse in a private institution of higher learning in Lagos, told The Eagle, that her work demands increase at the onset of exams.. According to her, that is when many students complain of being weak.

Though she did not related this to mental health challenge, others see a correlation. And that is where the call for government on government to rise up becomes necessary.

The government involvement comes from the realistaion that much of the stress is economy-related.

The prices of goods and services have so gone high in Nigerian recently that a lot of people are complaining.

Mr Stephen Igwe, an entrepreneur, who resides in the Olambe area of Ogun state told The Eagle that he almost had a misunderstanding with his wife last week when he realised that little or no foodstuff was brought into the house despite dropping N30, 000 for the purpose.

“It was only because I also went to buy beverages myself, that I realised it was not my wife’s fault. Prices were double what they used to be”, he said.

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Further checks showed that the consumer price index (CPI), as at last August increased to 20.52 percent up from 19.64 percent in the previous month. The rate has been described as the highest in the last fifteen years or thereabout.

With these, it is not a surprise that mental health challenges are also on the rise.