There is now a drastic increase in mental health related cases in the country owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, experts warn. According to a mental health professional who pleaded anonymity, the country is on the verge of a major health crisis, with daily doses of death, isolation and fear generating widespread psychological trauma. There have also been major increases in reported cases of rape and other criminalities across the country in the past three months as people find ways of coming to terms with the reality of the pandemic.
Only last week seven Journalists died, alongside several high net worth individuals “From available records, we are now witnessing upsurge in cases of depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide. All these are as a result of people’s inability to cope with the economic and social pressure that is now being associated with COVID-19. We all respond to pressure in several ways. Some can endure more than others. We need to show more empathy for one another during these troubling periods”
He urged the government to open special counseling centres manned by experts to help offer therapy sessions to people, particularly who are finding it difficult to cope with the pressure of everyday living. He equally advocated for the introduction of more palliatives by the government to stimulate the economy and assuage the sufferings of the struggling masses. It would be recalled that this week alone, there were several cases of alleged suicide related incidents reported in the media. The most prominent was that of a young couple based at Lekki and a single mother of one who lived in Port Harcourt.
