By: Celestine Ukah
*As APAS celebrate World Suicide prevention day
A Non Governmental Organization, NGO, known as Africa Project Against Suicide, APAS, has charged young people in Delta State to shun drug abuse and other anti social vices that will affect their mental health which may lead to depression if not tackled immediately.
APAS gave the charge Saturday September 10, 2022 through the Convener, Dr. Otega Okinono, South-South Secretary of APAS in Warri. Delta State during this year’s World Suicide prevention day in a seminar organised by the group.
She encouraged youths to always try to protect their mental health, noting that suicide is not and never an option to any problem one could have around them in the state, Nigeria and in the society.
According to Dr. Okinono and other partners the target of the sensitization is mainly centred on Secondary and Tertiary education Students which according to them are more vulnerable to the plague affecting the society, to educate and eighteen them and their peer groups on the current reality of the alarming rate of suicide as well as its causes and prevention.
The APAS Secretary South-South urged the people to take advantage of the availability of APAS services in its organised seminars and conferences as it will help in reducing the suicide menace in Nigeria, Dr. Otega Okinono, an academic stated further that the World Suicide prevention Day started 2003, adding that every September 10 for the past nine years have been set aside to mark suicide prevention campaign word wide.
Dr. Okinono assured that the awareness on Suicide prevention will be sustained, she commended Development Initiative for Community Impact, DICI for their collaboration, stressing that APAS is always ready to educate and mentor people on how to stay alive and live a normal.
A Mental Health and Emotional Wellness Advocate, Mrs. Eza Tetsoma Maureen, while delivering her lecture explained that lack of self worth, self defeat, health condition, engaging in reckless or impulsive behavior, depending on alcohol as well as economic challenges are some of the causes of depression, she admonished youths to make themselves happy and never accept being talked down by anybody even when things are not too fine as they will never be a time problems ‘go finish’ in life.
Mrs. Tetsoma stressed that the ideation and prevention of Suicide include, one making himself happy, running away from social vices, being smart and not rude, eating a balanced diet, cognitive behavioural therapy and forgiveness of one another in order to move on in life
The Programme Officer, Development Initiative for Community Impact, DICI, Tejiri Ojo, posited that their partnership with APAS is to make to make the suicide prevention successful and make sure Nigeria position in Suicide list of suicide in Africa is drastically reduced.
David Weke, Greg John, Eza Tobi Marvellous, other participants expressed delight for the event , they commended APAS and its partners for their support in making it easy for them to receive such powerful knowledge shared with out any fee attached , they promised to help spread the knowledge garnered at the epoch event for suicide prevention.
