Neurosurgeon advises togetherness, interactions, exercise for good mental health

To ensure good mental health and wellness, Nigerians are advised to shun isolation, embrace interactions and engage in regular exercises.

Dr Okezie Kanu, an Associate Professor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), gave the advice on Wednesday at the 2022 Annual General Meeting and Luncheon of the Private Practicing Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN).

The APPSN is a subgroup of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS).

The theme of the event was: "Professionalism and Longevity; Addressing the Dimensions of Wellness and Personal Health".

According to Kanu, a Guest Lecturer at the event, mental health is the foundation of all wellness, hence professionals must remain healthy physically and mentally for efficiency.

While listing requirements for the physical, spiritual, financial and emotional health, Kanu, who is a Neurosurgeon, enumerated the ills of isolation of which he said could compound avoidable diseases and lead to sickness, suicide and death.

He said that necessary factors for wellness included associating with friends and loved ones to eradicate stress and depression as well as group exercises.

"Togetherness fosters good mental health. Mental health is the foundation of wellness.

"Good exercise must be regular and enjoyable; you cannot enjoy good exercise alone. It must be done in togetherness," Kanu said.

He listed the various kinds of stress and the need to adopt the right coping attitude to overcome the ones that were not predictable and beyond human control to avert sinking into depression.

Kanu said there was a thin line between wellness and illnesses which depended on attitude and reactions to mental health issues.

He said response to stress could either be positive or negative as some negative behavioral responses could include drugs, alcoholism, anger, irritability and hormonal imbalances.

According to him, research shows that about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts go through the human mind daily, adding that, 70 per cent of those thoughts are usually negative .

He, however, urged people to deliberately focus on good thinking by creating the right diversions engaging in hobbies.

"Stay positive, trust in the power of time to heal, connect, don't die in silence. If there is a problem talk with somebody who will understand you.

"Exercise yourself, exercise your mind, play games. Sometimes laugh at yourself, laugh at your stupidity and make yourself happy.

"Handling stress can be easy, it can be difficult. Talk with professionals. Do regular health checks," he said.

On the other hand, Kanu said that though stress could generate negative consequences, it could also become a positive motivator to be used to achieve and exceed great opportunities and challenges if taken in good faith.

He called for repair of damaged relationships and forgiveness to ensure positive mental health, and highlighted some of the consequences of psychonomic illnesses caused by conflict, trauma and stress.

Psychonomics describes an approach to psychology that aims at discovering the laws (Greek: 'nomos') that govern the workings of the mind

Kanu also spoke on the importance of professionalism on the part of surveyors to bequeath good ethical standards to the next generation.

Earlier, the National President of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Dr Oluwamotemi Olukayode, represented by Mr Adewebi Vincent, appealed to surveyors to be the best they could health wise and emotionally.

"Your greatest asset is yourself, that is why you must take care of your health," he said.