Funmi Babington-Ashaye Foundation promotes mental health awareness
Kindly leave a comment and share
Chuks Udo Okonta
The Funmi Babington-Ashaye (FBA) Foundation as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has organised the 3rd Annual Mental Health Awareness ‘Walkathon’ to educate the public on how to protect our mental health.
The Walkathon themed: ‘Recognition & Prevention of Depression & Anxiety Disorder’ which held in Lagos, helped in creating a rounded understanding of the concept of mental health and discussion on innovative ways of building resilience after a trying time.
Psy Doctor and EAP Advisor Chris Abojei, speaking on the topic: ‘Your Mental Health and Building Resilience’, said about $190 billion per year is spent to address the psychological and physical effects of burnout according to Harvard Business Review.
The Canada based health expert noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) report states that one-in-four people in the workplace experience mental health condition; substance use disorder or both, adding that
10 per cent of the employed population take time off work due to depression and other psychosomatic illnesses.
According to him, the stress of work and lifestyle have also played a role in sudden or gradual deaths.
Abojei stated that there is no productivity without mental health, stressing that mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential and can cope with the normal stress of life.
He submitted that trying times affect mental health through stress, which impacts the human body and manifests in mood change; forgetfulness; negativity; withdrawal or isolation; loss of appetite; substance abuse; poor sleep; burnout; poor motivation amongst others.
On why people need resilience, he said it helps to steer through everyday adversities; stress and challenges.
According to him, resilience enables employees to bounce back from major setbacks; overcome unpleasant experiences that could overshadow the future and adopt a growth mindset to all circumstances.
The President FBA Foundation Mrs Yetunde Faulkner, said the Foundation has remained focused on driving awareness on mental health, because healthy people make a health nation.
She implored the public to give adequate attention mental health, whilst urging people to mitigate challenges associated to mental health by relaxing, celebrating themselves; playing; praying, hangouts; have fun; take good diet; exercise; keep sleep hygiene; invest in themselves; cut down media consumption; reach out by talking to someone when they feel stressed or can’t talk it anymore.
The Chairman Event Committee Mrs. Aderonke Adenekan, encouraged people to reconnect with family & friends and seek professional help in times of challenges.
She appreciated the participants for attending the Walkathon, whilst imploring them to be ambassadors of mental health awareness.
