The Human Resources and Planning Department on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, hosted a webinar to raise awareness about mental health issues that affect the well-being of AUN Community members.
The event was hosted by Hajiya Faizatu Ahmed Abubakar, Assistant Vice-President Human Resources and Planning Department and moderated by Sesugh Annger, Director, Office of Student Activities and Involvement (OSAI). It featured six resource persons who spoke on various topics relating to mental health-related illnesses, early stage symptoms, and how those suffering from mental illness can seek help.
Mr. Anthony Fadaka, University Registrar and Vice-President, Administration, while declaring the event open, observed that "the unfortunate thing is that no one takes someone's mental health seriously until it causes damage."
Ms. Saffiyah Auwal, a Law major and Vice-President of the SGA, was the first speaker, and she highlighted some study and work habits among students that can be harmful to the brain, such as cramming too many activities together without proper scheduling and planning, which she said could affect the brain negatively. "Bedtime reading may distort our comprehension ability." I eat while reading as well. She also advocated for a healthy balance of personal and remote work or study. Speaking out against combining work and pleasure, the law student suggested that a separate work space be created from the pleasure space. "Our brain associates various locations with various phenomena. Thus, scheduling prevents overworking and reduces stress; it is preferable to strike a balance in order to avoid stress, which is one of the causes of mental illness."
Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Mshelia, a Consultant Psychiatrist, MHPSS, and Addiction Specialist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, who spoke via zoom, discussed the causes of workplace stress, highlighting excessive workload, inappropriate remuneration, delayed promotion, denial of promotion, non-availability of improvement or advancement courses, obsolete equipment, and other factors that affect work life. Dr. Ibrahim urged attendees to pay more attention to life, as being aware of their stress and the factors that cause it earlier can help to prevent mental health deterioration. Stress, it is stated, can change the physiological structure of humans and can also affect a woman's menstrual cycle. "As humans, we have 24 hours a day." Divide that by three to get 8 hours. The eight hours should be divided evenly between work, life, and sleep. Because mental health encompasses our mental, physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being, it is critical that we develop interpersonal connections at work, connections with family and friends, time to love and celebrate, connect with the supernatural, and engage in regular exercise to reduce stress." Prof. Jennifer Tyndal of the AUN Natural and Environmental Sciences program spoke about mental health from a global perspective and lamented the stigmatization of people suffering from mental illness. Professor Tyndall advised students to avoid comparing themselves to people they see on social media, as this can lead to low self-esteem and depression. "Regardless of how the media portrays beauty, always appreciate yourself, because beauty lies within." "Your beautiful character is more important than your outward beauty," she cautioned.
She urged participants, particularly students, to always talk to someone they trust about mental health and stress issues, as this can be the first step toward seeking help. "Create study groups and a support system." Schedule a meeting with your professors and a professional psychologist." Professor Tyndal stated.
Mrs. Nafisah Mohammad Buba, a counselor who delivered a paper titled 'Mental Health and Optimal Performance: Personal and Professional,' urged the HR Department to ensure that such important awareness programs are attended by a large number of employees. She listed symptoms of stress such as anxiety, depression, increased absenteeism, violent confrontations, and self-isolation from family and friends. She recommended that whenever these behavioral changes occur in a staff member, the organization handle it professionally, with care and a support system to help the patient manage it.
She stated that it is the patient's organization's responsibility to maintain confidentiality in matters pertaining to mental health issues while attempting to assist. She suggested that the patient change tasks, change work areas, give the patient time off work, and collaborate with the affected employee and any relevant third party, particularly a professional, to develop an action plan for the healing process. "Avoid asking intrusive or presumptuous questions," she advised. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, community service, and reflecting on past positive experiences, according to the counsellor, are also helpful in the healing process of mental health illnesses. Dr. Danladi Saleh Idrisa, State Program Officer, United Nations Population Fund, who spoke on 'Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment,' acknowledged that, despite the fact that many people avoid discussing such topics in academic institutions, sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment are the root causes of the majority of depression and mental health illnesses, particularly among teenagers. He attributed this to victims of sexual abuse or harassment's reluctance to come forward and share their experiences. He stated that pain leads to low self-esteem, depression, and mental illness. He believes that every institution should have a standard policy against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. "The process should be designed in such a way that it promotes anonymity while also protecting the survivor's interests and lives." He also advocated for background checks on prospective staff and faculty members, claiming that many of them may have been fired from their previous jobs as a result of this act. "It should not be reported solely by the victim; if you suspect someone and have evidence that it could be a case of sexual harassment, report it," he says. Mr. Babalola Olajubu, a Clinical Psychologist, concluded the session by advising members of the Community to become more expressive and to learn not to bottle up their feelings.
Every year on October 10, the World Mental Health Day is observed as an International Day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. According to Wikipedia, it was first observed in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in over 150 countries.
Reported by John Abah