Mental Health Practitioners Urge Women to Prioritize Their Mental Health

Mental Health Practitioners have advised women to prioritize their mental health to be able to cope successfully with the stresses of everyday life.

Mental Health practitioner, Dr. Bashirat Abdulwahad and Sheikh Taiwo stated this at a 2 day women summit tilted: “Inspire to be a Complete Woman‘ in Abuja in Abuja.

They noted that Women are more predisposed to mental health issues owing biological to, Cultural, and Religious factors. They say that one in five women globally suffer from depression.

They urged women to educate themselves most on post partum depression as they are treatable. “Understand that it is not a sign of weakness neither is it always negative as portrayed”. Dr. Abdulwahad said.

The practitioners tasked the Government to make mental health more accessible in rural areas, schools, prisons and work places.

Former first lady of Imo State, Zinaria Nkechi Rochas Okorocha who is the convener of the Women Of Divine Destiny Initiative, WODDI, Summit, expressed optimism that the incoming president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will prioritize women’s inclusion in governance.

She acknowledged the abysmal representation of women at the recent elections, and the dwindling number of women in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration below the 35 affirmative action quota.

“What happened at the last election was quite unfortunate. I don’t know what went wrong, but we cannot dwell on what went wrong. We must move forward. I want to believe that the incoming president having being in governance before, and having a wife who is a senator, they will come to the table with a lot of things that will help Nigerian women and change whatever needs to be changed. Because the woman is key. She is important and there is no way we can deny that.” Mrs. Okorocha said.

Okorocha further notes that women must be determined and inspire themselves to reach their fullest potential, by thinking outside the box and being independent.