Experts Canvass Effective Mental Health for Adolescents

Funmi Ogundare

Experts in the health sector yesterday stressed the need for parents, teachers and caregivers to ensure an effective mental health of the adolescent.

They made this call at the fourth edition of the annual mental wellness conference tagged ‘Adolescent Mental Wellness and Resilience in an Unequal World’, organised virtually and physically by the OISA Foundation.

The conference, planned to commemorate the World Mental Health Day, celebrated globally on Octo­ber 10, is aimed at heightening the conversation on the critical role that mental wellness plays in the well-being of adolescents and young adults in Nigeria.

They emphasised the importance of having a supportive environment in the family, school and in the wider community so that adolescents could live and work fruitfully, contribute to society and realise their potential.

In his remarks, the President, Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Prof. Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, described the adolescence period as very crucial for developing and maintaining social and emotional habits important for mental well-being.

He expressed concern that an estimated 10 to 20 per cent of adolescents globally experience mental health conditions, yet they remain undiagnosed and untreated.

According to him, “mental health conditions account for 16 per cent of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10 to 19 years. Half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age, but most cases are undetected and untreated.”

Sheikh who is also a Professor of Psychiatry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, expressed concern about the consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health saying that it extends to adulthood and can impair both physical and mental health; and limit opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.

He however, emphasised on school-based mental health programmes that would focus on promoting mental wellness, preventing mental health problems and providing treatment, as well as ensuring effective programmes that will promote the healthy social and emotional development of all children and youths.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the foundation, Mrs. Olapeju Sofowora, appealed to all stakeholders to support the foundation in preventing mental health conditions.

She said research has shown that one in every four Nigerians are suffering from mental health issues, adding that with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for preventive measures particularly for adolescents has become imperative.

“As part of our intervention, we have set in motion things on mental health to assist parents and caregivers. We will continue to meet with experts in the education sector to create the right atmosphere on mental health discussion for the entire school community,” she said.

A behavioural Psychologist and life coach, Mr. Lanre Olushola who emphasised on the increas­ing issues and challenges of mental health on youths in Nigeria, observed that mental health is the largest cause of diseases among adolescents.

He expressed concern that the youths most times, complain that their parents do not have time for them and don’t show care; and that the schools are too focused on academics.

For society to experience mental health change, he said there was a need for parents, caregivers and schools to take responsibility by creating the right environment for their children.

“Stress is their number one which is responsible for 90 per cent of all diseases. Parents and teachers are the ones that trigger that stress. We must begin to promote mental health to regulate their emotions and adversely manage their stress,” he said.

In her remarks, the Head of Department, Child and Adolescents Mental Health Department Service Centre, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Grace Ijarogbe, listed some of behavioural problems in adolescents to include; poor mental development, rudeness, rebellion, individuality, poor capacity for thinking and abstraction, excessive modesty and shyness, among others, adding in order to help them overcome these challenges parents, schools and caregivers must understudy them, be prepared for their developmental settings, help them with anxiety over acceptance anywhere band be aware of their phase of life.