By Faith Ogundoyin

A commonly seen scenario when conversations about mental health challenges are held is the cry over spilt milk. The damage must have been done before friends and fans can pay attention to the sufferer but this is not the way to go definitely. On your part, there are moves you must start making so that you are never caught in such a scene.

One of the most frequent things that gradually leads to death is mental health illness and in past years closer attention has not been paid to it. Someone does not have to run mad before he or she has a mental illness, small things that have gotten little attention are mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, stress, and the like.

A popular Nigerian singer, Stanley Omah Didia, known as Omah Lay, during his interview with Steph TV, disclosed that he attempted suicide while struggling with depression.  When asked about the inspiration for the album and his creative mental space, Omah Lay revealed that he was in a dark place and was able to channel his pain into creativity.

“I was suicidal. I was really fucked up. I think I had to be there to help people who are there to get out of it. It will take a very bold person to speak about it so openly,” he said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Omah Lay (@omah_lay)

ALSO READ: I’m a mess by Omah Lay – so much relatability

The musician was said to have suffered from depression due to heartbreak and was finally able to conquer it by turning his pain into creativity which led to his “Boy Alone Deluxe” in June 2023. In there, he talked about falling into depression and getting out.

Another Nigerian singer, Joshua Iniyezo, known as Solidstar is one of the artists suffering from a mental disorder. He was said to have been seen roaming Lagos Streets. One of his relatives reported that the musician was suffering from mental health concerns. The brother used Solidstar’s verified Instagram account to update the public on Solidstar’s mental health.

“Hello everyone, my name is Joseph Iniyezo. I am Solidstar’s brother. I want to use this medium to let his fans, friends, and industry colleagues know that Solidstar is sick,” he said.

“I know you may be wondering why he has not been active because he has been sick and battling a lot mentally. He must have offended some of his friends and colleagues but it is not his fault.

“We thought we would be able to solve the issue internally and we tried our best but we need your help now. His friends, his colleagues please we need your help, if there is any time in the world he needs your help, it is now.”

All these instances are the lesser-known scenes where mental health issues have been discussed. Art is a form of expression but not all have this avenue to channel emotions. Bearing this limitation in mind, it is better to look for hacks instead of a cure.

Such as four preventive measures that help to avoid mental health illness:

• Make social interaction a priority, especially in person: Phone calls and social media have their uses, but nothing beats the stress-relieving and mood-boosting impact of meaningful face-to-face contact with others, especially those you love and who energize you.
• Stay active: Staying active is beneficial to both the mind and the body. Regular exercise or activity can improve your mental and emotional health, ease stress, boost memory, and improve your sleep.
• Make leisure super important: We are all guilty of being “too busy” to take a break, but leisure time is essential for emotional and mental wellness. Take some time to relax, reflect, and pay attention to the positive aspects of your day – even the minor ones. If you can, write them down because they are easy to forget. Then, if your mood requires it, ponder on them later.
• Consume a brain-healthy diet to promote good mental health: Food like oats, bananas, Yogurt, omega-3-rich fatty fish (Sardines, Tuna, Mackerel, etc.), leafy vegetables (Bitter leaf, Ugu, water leaf, etc.) may all help your mood. Dark chocolate has also been shown to have possible mental health benefits.

ALSO READ: The deodorising snacks that save you from garlic shame

Mental health problems have no restrictions since everyone, both the young and old and also the rich and the poor, are bruised by it.

A way to find some sort of immunity against stress which is one of the main causative factors leads to the choice of living right and to note that one’s mental health affairs should be handled in a priority list and not in the kids’ glove section.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.