It’s time Nigeria treats mental health with empathy, not punishment – Vanguard Editor

Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Eze Anaba, has urged Nigerians to amusement greater empathy and enactment toward radical battling intelligence wellness challenges, stressing that intelligence well-being indispensable beryllium treated arsenic a nationalist precedence and not a luxury.

Speaking astatine the 3rd variation of the Vanguard Mental Health Summit held successful Lagos, Anaba said the lawsuit had grown into 1 of Nigeria’s astir respected platforms for advocacy and dialog connected intelligence wellness since its inception successful 2021.

He noted that the summit, themed “Stemming the Rising Tide of Suicide successful Nigeria”, with the sub-theme “Substance and Silence: Unmasking the Dual Crisis of Addiction and Suicide”, was timely fixed the rising economical hardship and affectional distress among Nigerians.

Citing a caller World Bank study that placed 139 cardinal Nigerians beneath the poorness line, an summation of 9 cardinal from erstwhile figures, Anaba said the harsh economical concern was worsening intelligence distress crossed the country.

“This harsh economical world inevitably pushes much radical to the edge, and sadly, for some, it whitethorn pb to the achy decision that beingness is nary longer worthy living,” helium said.

While acknowledging that intelligence wellness challenges stem from divers causes beyond poverty, Anaba stressed that empathy and societal compassion indispensable usher nationalist conversations.

“In galore developed nations, termination is approached with compassion and care. Sadly, present successful Nigeria, our laws inactive criminalise termination attempts,” helium said, expressing optimism that the measure presently earlier the National Assembly seeking to decriminalise termination would soon beryllium passed.

Anaba emphasised that journalism indispensable spell beyond reporting to driving societal change, adding that Vanguard remains committed to promoting nationalist conversations that beforehand intelligence wellness awareness, argumentation reform, and entree to care.

He called connected stakeholders to physique stronger partnerships that chopped crossed government, backstage sector, and civilian society, saying intelligence wellness cannot beryllium tackled successful isolation.

“As a nation, we indispensable recognize however profoundly intelligence wellness affects our families, workplaces, and communities. The pressures of modern beingness — economical uncertainty, insecurity, trauma, and societal isolation — proceed to instrumentality a toll connected our corporate well-being,” helium said.

He commended the summit’s partners, sponsors, and facilitators for their continued support, describing their contributions arsenic captious to gathering a much inclusive and compassionate society.

“Let america retrieve that intelligence wellness is not a luxury — it is simply a necessity. When we put successful intelligence health, we put successful the spot of our radical and the aboriginal of our nation,” helium added.

The Vanguard Mental Health Summit, present successful its 3rd edition, continues to pull experts, advocates, policymakers, and intelligence wellness professionals dedicated to addressing Nigeria’s increasing intelligence wellness and termination crises.

The station It’s clip Nigeria treats intelligence wellness with empathy, not punishment – Vanguard Editor appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.