Though under-diagnosis of depression is a global problem, Nigeria is one country that doesn't acknowledge the existence of this disorder. Many Nigerians do not know what depression means, and according to studies by Health think in 2017, about 7 Million suffer from it.
I'm a Nigerian, and it should be noted that l do not seek to discredit my country. I applaud my country for where achievements it's made, and l speak against its inability to properly treat some life-threatening issues.
Depression, a mental disorder that presents as an inability to feel pleasure or excitement about most things, loss of appetite and interest, always feeling guilt, having a depressed mood, not being able to concentrate, having low self-worth, etc has no cure but it can be adequately managed if diagnosed with early.
Depression cases are not easily recognized, mostly because there are no tools in place for adequate detection. It is believed that depression is mainly for the poor, and less privileged thus, the section of modern medicine that will detect, and manage cases are not well established.
Nigerians who are depressed hardly take their lives, because of the strong adherence to religious teachings and beliefs, the hope in God for a better tomorrow, and the belief that committing suicide will land one in hell. Thus, cases of people dying from suicide are less but that of people living a frustrated life is more.
People around here result to drinking and becoming drug addicts instead of sitting in the confines of their room and staying all to themselves. Depression is one major contributing factor to the rise in drug addiction in my country.
Both women and men in my country share similar tendencies to fall into depression. Though men are mostly the breadwinners, their depression oftentimes affects the wives and also the children, likewise that of the women. This is because they lash out their disappointments on family and friends around.
My country still has a long way to go because the system is bad to the extent that deaths due to depression are not well documented. Share with us, what it is like in your country. I would like to know what the leadership and people of your country are doing about it. Thank you for reading this article.
Depression is really a serious problem in the society. I love it when u put statistics on your article, coz numbers don't lie. i am not a Nigerian but depression is really rampant an alarming in my country too that's why it caught my attention reading the title. There are so many causing factors behind it and the effects are mostly severe and alarmin. I hope the system will do something about it.