The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has organised a mental health seminar aimed at promoting mental resilience in today’s turbulent world.
The seminar, organisrd by the University Cinic, was a hybrid event held both physically and virtually, with the physical venue being the Media Building Theatre Hall at the headquarters in Abuja.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, highlighted the importance of the seminar in his address.
Peters urged attendees to pay attention to their mental health and the mental health of those around them, as the issues can often go unnoticed until they have severe consequences.
The VC emphasised the need for community support and encouraged everyone to check up on one another, as simple gestures of support can save lives.
He addressed the issue of unmet expectations, which he identified as a major cause of mental health disorders.
Peters advised the university community to remember that whatever challenges they are currently facing in life are just temporary phases that may be preparing them for future opportunities.
He said the importance of thinking and worrying less, as excessive rumination can release hormones that affect our emotions negatively and encouraged the staff to prioritise frequent exercise, maintain healthy relationships, identify their weaknesses, seek help when needed, set boundaries, and engage in stress-relieving activities such as listening to music and staying connected with loved ones.
The guest speaker at the seminar was Professor Gloria Anietor, a health specialist from the Faculty of Health Sciences of the university.
Anietor classified mental health into two categories: positive and negative, and listed various types of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia, and traumatic stress disorders.
She defined resilience as the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences and emphasised the importance of building resilience to overcome mental health issues.
Anietor, who is also the Director of the NOUN’s Centre for Excellence in Migration and Global Studies. provided practical heath tips for building mental resilience, such as practicing positivity, problem-solving, accepting failure, appreciating one’s strengths, eating healthy, and carefully choosing whom to share problems with.
She highlighted signs of good mental health, including a positive mood, positive outlook on life, emotional resilience, good relationships, self-care for productivity, ability to seek help when needed, saying no when necessary, and engaging in activities such as prayer, dancing, and exercise.
Anietor also discussed when it is important to seek mental health help, such as struggling to cope with prolonged feelings of sadness, excessive anger, suicidal thoughts, disturbed sleeping patterns, and difficulty focusing and remembering things.
She emphasised the importance of empathy and understanding when it comes to mental health issues and encouraged the general public to treat individuals seeking professional help for their mental health issues with kindness and referred those in need to their respective health centres.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Head of the NOUN clinic, Dr. Hassan Muhammad, emphasised the importance of addressing the challenges life throws at Nigerians and the impact it can have on the people’s mental well-being.
Mohammed stressed that if mental health is not prioritised, it can lead to stress, anxiety, hypertension, and other health issues that affect the overall well-being and work productivity.
He expressed concerns about the stigma surrounding mental health, which often acts as a barrier to people seeking the treatment they need.
The head of the clinic called for collective efforts to build a healthier society that prioritises mental well-being.
The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Shehu Usman Adamu, in his closing remarks, thanked everyone involved in the seminar and urged participants to take care of their mental health, avoiding excessive worrying about things beyond their control.
