Lanre Olusola
Lagos-based motivational speaker, behavioural and life coach, Lanre Olusola, popularly called The Catalyst, has penned an interesting piece on depression and value of human life. It's a must read.
Depression, death and suicide are heavily linked together. Just last week, a few days into the New Year, my attention was drawn to a young student of one of the Nigerian Universities who committed suicide. This young boy was said to be have been brilliant and was from a good and financially balanced home with a promising future. This begs the question, if everything was rosy, why did he kill himself? What could have driven a young boy with his whole life ahead of him to kill himself? Did anyone know he was unhappy? Did he try to speak out or was he scared?
This brings to mind the case of Olisa Nwakobi, yet another story that jolted the society to the reality of depression, hopelessness and how it leads to suicide. Olisa, just like many of us was a husband, son, uncle and father of a 10 year old who until his death was a banker. To many, he would seem successful but unfortunately, he shot himself dead in front of a priest over a bad bank loan.
Wow! What will cause a grown man like this to kill himself? The answer is in a 10 letter word spelt DEPRESSION! “May this not be my portion in Jesus name” many will be praying right now. But prayer alone can’t attack this silent killer; the right action has to be taken in time to get help for anyone who is suffering from depression and hopelessness.
I was having a conversation with 2 gentlemen yesterday and one vehemently said that depression and suicide was for the weak. Did Olisa kill himself because he was weak? Did he kill himself because he was afraid, stressed and ashamed of the repercussions of some past actions he took?
Was he under too much pressure that made him cave? Who is to blame for his demise, his family – wife, mum, brother or friends? Who could have bailed him out of his predicament and given him hope and a reason to live?
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE VALUE OF LIFE?
What does Life really mean to us? At the time of his death, life obviously meant nothing again to Olisa who took his life with a small bullet- how much does a bullet actually cost?
But before anyone gets to that point where he takes his own life – He cries out LOUD several times for help. So did Olisa try to reach out for help? Did the young university student reach out for help? Did he show signs of darkness, hopelessness and impending doom? Were those cries for help ignored by people around him that seemed to be focused only on their own stuff?
Did he cry out for help by posting several messages on his dp “the new platform” for suicide notes and messages? Did anyone think anything of his messages especially in the last week preceding his suicide? Could his life have been salvaged if more care and attention were given and if his friends and family ensured that he saw a Life coach, psychotherapist, a psychiatrist or a true professional that could have helped him salvage his state of mind and see a glimmer of hope even if it was a small one just to start his rehabilitation journey?
In Olisa’s case, at his lowest and the end of his darkness, he clearly knew that he needed to see someone but it was a priest he could reach out to but that did not help him deal with his depression because he still killed himself.
In Today’s world where we daily experience numerous global issues such as economic recessions, personal financial problems, political instability, social and family instability (separation and divorce), insecurity, abuse and violence, all these and more create heightened anxiety, fear, trauma, frustration etc thereby threatening many people’s state of mental and emotional stability. Frequent encounters and pressure from common day stressors in the workplace, family and society at large will continue to push our emotional well-being to the brinks.
Are you struggling to cope with life’s challenges and stressors? Do you know that over 21 million Nigerians are currently living with one form of mental and emotional health challenge? Do you know that every 40 secs someone, somewhere is committing suicide?
If you’re depressed call us now. Get a colleague, friend or family member to call us today for help 08077077000. Send us an email now info@olcang.com
At OLCA, we are here to give Hope, Healing and Life. HELP is available, depression and other forms of mental ill-health are not death sentences, with professional care, you can live a normal and happy life. Life is too valuable; Save one TODAY.
About the Author:
Lanre Olusola a.k.a The Catalyst is a Life, Mind, Emotions & Behavioural Change Coach
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