Overwhelmed by university life
Life had been smooth for me until my mental health started to deteriorate. I had always been an ambitious and optimistic person, but my mental health struggles put a dent in my hopes and dreams.
It all started during my second year at the university. The stress of academics, extracurricular activities, finances, and trying to balance everything was overwhelming. You know how stressful things can get studying in a Naija university. I started experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and it became difficult to focus on my studies. It was as if my mind was in a constant state of turmoil, and I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Initially, I didn’t think it was something I should be worried about because I felt like everyone around me was probably going through the same thing. But then, my mental health challenges made it difficult for me to focus on my studies, relationships, and personal goals. There were days when I felt like giving up, and it was hard to motivate myself to keep going. It was even more challenging to explain to people what I was going through. I had some people tell me “Guy no be only you o” meaning I wasn’t the only one going through the same issue. But having people make such statements only made me feel like everyone has a problem, so why bother others with mine?
Feeling misunderstood and judged
In Nigeria, mental health is a topic that isn’t often discussed and easily misunderstood. People often assume that mental illness is a sign of madness, and some people may notice the symptoms but only refer to the person as weird or something like that. This only makes it difficult for individuals like me to speak out or seek help.
However, I have found that opening up to a few trusted friends and family members has been helpful. They have been a source of support and encouragement, and they have helped me to keep going during my darkest moments. Counselling has also been beneficial. Access to mental health services is limited in Nigeria, however, I am happy that some organizations are working so hard to tackle this problem, and some mental health services now provide free counselling.
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Need for more mental health resources in Nigeria
I would like to see more resources and support for mental health in Nigeria. Mental health education should be incorporated into the curriculum at all levels of education, and there should be more funding for mental health services. There should also be more efforts to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and people should be encouraged to seek help without fear of judgment.
From my personal experience, I know that mental health struggles are real, and can happen to anyone. I am grateful for the support and resources that have been available to me. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to improve mental health care in Nigeria. It’s my hope that in the future, mental health will be given the attention and resources it deserves. Hopefully, more people would not have to suffer in silence.
Chinedu is a final-year student studying at one of the universities in Nigeria. He is passionate about his studies and his personal goals. He enjoys playing football, chess and Scrabble.
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