A psychologist, Prof. Amos Alao, on Saturday advised Nigerians undergoing depression to seek help from the counselling and psychiatric centres to reduce suicide cases in the country.
Alao, also a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, gave the advice at the 9th inaugural lecture of the institution in Ota.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture is entitled: “Can Two Work Together Except They Agree? – A Psychological Perspective of a Journey of a Helping Relationship and Change”.
The WHO says, “Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
“More than 300 million people are now living with depression, an increase of more than 18 per cent between 2005 and 2015.
“Lack of support for people with mental disorders, coupled with a fear of stigma, prevents many from accessing the treatment they need to live healthy and productive lives.’’
Alao said, “The most prevailing causes of suicide are relationship problems, loss of a close relation, mental disorder and family problems.
He said that there was need to strengthen the family because of its pertinent role in addressing the increasing cases of suicide.
The psychologist advised people passing through depression not to consider suicide as the next option, saying that ending one’s life was not the solution.
He appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts in improving the living standard of the citizens.
Alao said that people’s psychological stability would be stable when their basic needs were provided by the government.
He also called for adequate demographic variables on suicide victims for easy monitoring of the trend. (NAN)
IGE/MAS/GOK