According to media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, public emotional breakdowns involving well-known personalities reflect a deeper and more pervasive mental health crisis in Nigeria.
He urged the millions of people who are still suffering from silence to be aware of how these incidents are handled.
Jideonwo, who spoke on the Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Wednesday, claimed that Nigeria’s numerous structural and political issues have made it difficult to minimize personal trauma as though emotional suffering pales in comparison to “bigger national issues”.
There is a perception that personal trauma is minor, like we have bigger issues to deal with because our nation has so many big issues. He urged people to “take this seriously.”
According to him, recent public incidents involving online celebrities and creatives have revealed how much emotional and mental strain Nigerians endure each day.
“I believe there have been incidents like the ongoing issues with LazyWrita and Peller,” the author said. The news surrounding Tontoh Dikeh kind of demonstrates how vulnerable people are to intense mental pressure, according to Jideonwo.
He argued that the situation affects both public figures and private citizens who lack access to adequate support.
People in our country are under a lot of emotional strain. People in our country are unable to access the assistance they require. People in our country, whether they are in public or private, are experiencing suffering in their hearts and minds,” he continued.
Jideonwo argued that when emotional struggles enter public space, they should be treated as a warning rather than as a sneer or sensationalized.
He said, “When we see it bleed into the public space, it should serve as a reminder of how serious the mental health crisis is.” There are thousands of private bleeds, according to the statement “if a known person bleeds in public emotionally.”
He warned that society’s response to well-known cases sends a message to those who are quietly struggling to decide whether to accept or reject their suffering.
He said that how we handle public events teaches private individuals that their own struggles with mental health should be taken seriously.
Anda Damisa, a well-known writer and creative influencer in Nigeria, passed away after his comments were made.
Damisa, who is alleged to have committed suicide, gained a following through thoughtful social media storytelling and poetry.
Source: Channels TV
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