By Ovat Abeng
As part of activities to marked this year 2024 World Mental Health Day Celebration, the Anambra State Government has intensified awareness campaign to curtailed depression among residents in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health Dr Afam Obidike disclosed this while briefing Journalists at his office on Thursday to commemorate the day.
He said the exercise has already commence across the 179 communities in the state.
According to the Commissioner, the World Mental Health Day was established on October 10,1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. Since then, it has been observed every year with the aim of raising awareness in the global community about critical mental health agendas through collaboration with various partners to take action and create lasting change in society.
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“Over the years, this day has gained momentum, becoming a platform for governments, organization and individuals to develop initiatives that focus on various aspects of mental health care. Consequently, World Mental Health Day is being observed across the globe today.
This day aims to raise awareness about mental health issues such as Anxiety disorders, behavioral and emotional disorders in children, bipolar affective disorder, Depression, Dissociation and dissociative disorders, Eating disorders, Obsessive compulsive disorder, paranoia, schizophrenia, dementia, substance abuse disorders, etc and mobilize efforts in support of mental health care worldwide.
The theme for this year is “Mental Health at Work” which emphasizes the importance of taking collective action to ensure that workplaces foster mental health, protect against harm, and support those who need help.
According to a Mental Health Survey conducted recently, nearly 10.6 per cent of adults suffered from mental health disorders, affecting 1 in 8 persons globally.
In this years World Mental Health Day, my ministry is uniting with partners such as the WHO, CHAI, Red aid, AHNI, to highlight the vital connection between mental health and work because evidence shows that a safe healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health as hunger, victimization, other unhealthy conditions including stigma, discrimination, and exposure to risks like harassment and other poor
working conditions, can pose significant risks, affecting mental health, overall quality of life and consequently participation or productivity at work.
“With 60% of the global population in work, urgent action is needed to ensure work prevents risks to mental health and protects and supports mental health at work.
It is essential for governments at all levels, private employers, the organizations which represent workers and employers, and other stakeholders responsible for workers’ health and safety to work together to improve mental health at work. Action to address mental health at work should be done with the meaningful involvement of workers and their representatives, and persons with lived experience of mental health.
“By investing efforts and resources in evidence-based approaches and interventions at work, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive at work and in life.
“Today, ladies and gentlemen, the overall objective of the day for us in Anambra state is to raise awareness of mental health issues around such as depression, anxiety, substance
abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, etc especially in this post covid era and economic hardship and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
“For this reason, Mr governor, the governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, just approved the Implementation of the new minimum wage in the state this October and we as a government has now employed health workers for our hospitals and just last month trained them in management of some common mental health disorders.
“Mr governor equally gave us support and my ministry established a mental health unit for coordination of mental health in the state as stipulated in the national mental health policy as agreed by all of us during the national council of health meeting as well as improving access to the patients care at the neuropsychiatric hospital, Nawfia community in Njikoka local government area of the State.
“Dear Ndi Anambra and her esteemed workers let’s improve our mental health by observing some of these strategies.:
Fostering open communication, Prioritizing sleep and good nutrition, Exercising, Seeking help when needed, Avoiding conflict with colleagues, Encouraging work free balance, Respecting your superiors, Observing approved leaves, Limiting work outside work hours etc.
“On my part, I and my management team will ensure a state where mental health is valued, promoted, protected, and where every resident has access to evidence based mental,” Dr. Obidike concluded.
Speaking briefly also at the briefing, the State Mental Health Programme Coordinator, Dr. Uchenna Okeke, appeal to the people to joined the campaign to raid Anambra State off of the mental health disorders.
