There is no gainsaying in the fact that the level and cases of depression is assuming a dangerous dimension. The effects of the economic recession coupled with dilapidating infrastructure and the unending cases of corruption and looting can definitely make a saner mind suddenly go naught. It is worrisome that suicide which was uncommon and unimaginable yesteryears has suddenly become a near daily occurrence. It is more worrisome that people who should know the genesis, predisposing factors and management now fall prey to the effects of this satanic tool.

Depression is a state of low esteem orchestrated by loss or disappointment. The effects of depression are both monumental and multifaceted and rubs on every sphere of life alienating a life from soundness and happiness physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. It could start from the home, office, community, church, friends, anyone or anywhere.

There are great lessons from cases of depression we have witnessed recently. Developments in recent past clearly show that depression is no respecter of persons. Anyone could suffer from it. How can one imagine an educated young man who is supposedly comfortable to drift from depression to suicide. Therefore, both the poor and the rich, the weak and the mighty, the educated and the uneducated are on same page. The fact is that every man at one point or the other in his sojourn on earth would have one or more reasons to be LIABLE to depression. If it has the capability to hit anyone, what then is important is the approach to prevent and contain its effects. What is your attitude to life? Have you suddenly forgotten that whom and what you are, are privileges. Any man regardless of his status and attainment would have reasons to thank God if he would count his blessings and name them one by one.

Regardless of the qualifications, status and job description, depression can set in. Whether you are a politician, medical doctor, lecturer, lawyer, businessman, cab driver, student, artisan, Pastor/ Imam, nurse, etc, you are prone to depression . In 2017, the young man that committed suicide by jumping into the lagoon in Lagos was a medical doctor, knowledgeable to even advise others, yet he got sunk in the murderous tendencies of depression.

Before now, it used to be people with low profile that would suffer depression leading to suicide. I remember in late 80s and early 90s when students who failed WAEC would jump into the river but that had since stopped, perhaps due to avalanche of opportunities of different exams available to the students now. For a man or woman who had passed through formative stages of life to contemplate suicide is a strong indication that depression has nothing to do with one’s IQ. A medical doctor will definitely know the essence of life and living and was relatively better than many others and equally had prospects yet he was subsumed by depression. If anything, people with higher IQs are more susceptible. The ego factor in man must be switched off to successfully fight depression regardless of the cause. Therefore, it is always good to seek help.

The young medical doctor that committed suicide was below 40. Another attempted suicide arising from depression was above 50 while the Officer that killed his girlfriend was below 30. A secondary school student had killed himself sometimes ago because he was asked to repeat a class. It follows that age is not a barrier against depression. Who told him that repeating a class stops him from attaining higher education even before his colleagues who didn’t repeat. Depression blindfolds a man! Just as it attacks the young, it attacks the old.

Religion or religiosity does not immune anybody against depression but the attitude to life does. You could be religious and your threshold towards containing the vagaries of life may be low. What is your attitude to life? Are you too concerned with the ephemerals of this world ? Are you trapped in inordinate ambition at the detriment of your inner peace. Anything that threatens your inner peace is too dangerous to habour. Who says you cannot get a better job; that your marriage cannot get better; that your child that is giving you problem cannot turn around to give you joy; that you cannot be celebrated where you had been rejected. If you look around in our contemporary world, you will see lives that transmuted from nothing to something worthwhile. Therefore, do not drift into depression!

Just last month, a 47 year old lady working with a telecommunication company in Lagos committed suicide by allegedly drinking chemical substance known as sniper. The social media was awash with various speculations but the fact is that depression is real and it could affect anyone regardless of his or her status. A woman with good job , good husband and family could suffer from depression! No one willingly wants to suffer from depression! Therefore, any one in depression needs help and not condemnation!

In the current scenario, Emmanuel, the writer of suicide letter requested the brother to be strong and directed him to take good care of the mum. He certainly loved his family but the depression ate deep into him.

Emmanuel allegedly committed suicide by drinking chemical substance also known as sniper.

His suicide notes which appeared on social media today read :

It is possible that the young man has been suffering from the depression for some time but wanted to fight it alone and unfortunately was overwhelmed. The truth is that no one has immunity against depression and no one wants to be depressed. However, suicide is never an option!

STEPS TO BE TAKEN

1. Never allow whatever is going on around you to get to your soul. Remember the thief cometh not but to steal, kill and destroy. Proverbs 18:14.
2. Know that you are not the first and will never be the last to pass through your present travails. Abraham (Genesis 15), Jonah (Jonah 4), Job (Book of Job), Elijah (1 Kings 19)
3. Do not be foolish enough to allow anyone to steal your joy. You are responsible for your life and your joy. Don’t trade it for anything. I mean anything.
4. Learn to sit on the window of life during challenges so as to remember the challenges you had surmounted in the past.
5. Take time off for a personal evaluation when you observe unnecessary stress and irritation.
6. Ventilate your concerns and fears to a trusted and matured fellow. A problem shared is half solved. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
7. Lay it all at the feet of Jesus Christ. He says “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28
8. Be joyful and hopeful regardless of the situation. Once you are alive and knows that there is hope for a dead tree and a living dog is better than a dead lion, rejoice.Eccl. 9:4
9. Meditate on good things to chase away the evil thoughts. This will give you inner peace (Psalm 119:97, 165).
10. Seek medical attention for a second opinion. Remember that the psychiatric hospitals are not only meant for people that are mentally deranged. Prov 11:14.
    Shalom

Encourage someone to come out of depression today.

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Dr Kayode Ogunjobi

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