As far as the average Nigerian is concerned mental health issues don’t exist for us. If you are depressed or suffering from some sort of mental illness, it’s either your village people who are doing you or you need deliverance. In fact, if you’ve ever heard a Nigerian talk about mental health we are pretty sure you heard something along the lines of these statements.
“Have you prayed about it? Let me give you my pastor’s number”
“It’s that the only thing that’s doing you, your own is even small, my landlord gave me quit notice yesterday”
“I don’t blame you, it’s because you don’t have real problems to think about”
“Depressed ke? God forbid, have you eaten today, maybe you are hungry”
“You want to talk to a therapist? For what? It’s like you think you are oyinbo”
“Ahan you too you are depressed, it’s like this thing is trending now”
“Better go and pray about it, such shall never be your portion in Jesus name”
“It’s just a phase jo it’ll pass, don’t worry”
“Ahan you are wearing cloth, you can eat everyday, there are clothes on your back, what more do you want?”
“You just like to dey overthink, it’s not that serious”
“You want to get help? You don’t know that you have to help yourself first abi?”
“Are you the only one? We are all sad please, stop making a big deal about it”
“You just like attention sha”
“At your small age, what do you have to be anxious about?”
“You are just too sensitive abeg”
“You have to pray more o, don’t let the devil manifest himself in your life”
“Wait I don’t understand, so…you are mad?”
“Wo you are not alone, the way it’s doing you is the way it’s doing all of us.”
“Shh don’t talk about it, you want your enemies to use it against you?”
If you’ve ever been guilty of saying any of the above, we are here to tell you that you need to do better. If you know someone who is struggling with mental health issues, it’s not enough to just help them pray about it.
If you need someone to talk to, the guys at MANI are doing incredible work, and we stan.
Hi Family, Today looks like a particularly good day to talk about @mentallyawareng (MANI), our amazing volunteers, the extent of our services offered and our limitations. THREAD. Please do RT #iammentalllyaware #keeptalkingMH
— MentallyAwareNigeria (@MentallyAwareNG) August 19, 2018
