DEPRESSION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS

Nigeria's worsening socio-economic conditions are significantly contributing to a rise in depression and other mental illnesses, experts warn. Prof. Taiwo Obindo, former President of the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria, highlighted that increasing economic hardship and insecurity are pushing more Nigerians toward mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.

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The nation’s present socio-economic environment could be a predisposing factor to depression.

Medical practitioners have previously sounded the alarm, with the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) reporting that seven million Nigerians suffer from depression. They stressed that depression is a major risk factor for suicide and called for better-structured primary healthcare centers to facilitate early detection and treatment.

The article points to the pervasive poverty, high unemployment rates, and a general sense of hopelessness as compelling factors. Impoverished individuals are identified as a high-risk group for depression, which experts link as the most common reason for suicide. The current environment creates enormous emotional and financial stress across the country.

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seven million Nigerians are living with depression, a major risk factor for suicide.

Beyond socio-economic factors, the piece also notes other contributors to suicide, such as underlying mental disorders like schizophrenia, excessive alcoholism, and drug abuse. The widespread use of hard drugs is cited as a significant trigger for suicidal thoughts and depression. The authorities are urged to heed the professionals' advice and implement measures to combat depression before it escalates to suicide.

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the authorities must listen to these professionals on the need to find ways of dealing with depression before they trigger suicide in the patients.