A Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Taiwo Obindo, has underscored the need for Nigerians to adopt effective stress coping measures to reduce the risk of mental health conditions.
Obindo, also the President, Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria (APN),said this on Monday in Lagos that adequate sleep and rest could reduce the risk of mental health conditions associated with stress.
He spoke in commemoration of the 2025 International Stress Awareness Week, marked from Nov. 3 – Nov. 7, with the 2025 theme as: “Optimising Employee Wellbeing Through Strategic Stress Management”.
The week aims to raise awareness about the impact of stress and promote effective ways to manage it.
He cautioned that prolonged days of sleeplessness could be an indicator that there might be a mental health problem that needs to be checked.
Obindo, who described poor sleep and stress as gateway to mental illness, said that depression, lack of happiness, sudden loss of interest and anxiety disorders were other factors that could trigger mental illness.
He decried that stress had quietly become part of everyday lives, as people were being stressed at work, burned out from responsibilities, or being overwhelmed by the constant demands of life.
According to him, safeguarding mental health has become more crucial for individuals in Nigeria due to the difficulties posed by the current state of the economy.
“Making time each day to take care of our mental health is crucial; scheduling time for enjoyable activities and relaxation techniques can offer encouragement in the face of uncertainty.
“Setting achievable goals and time management are also key to coping with stress/depression because our expectations sometimes may be unrealistic, putting us on a lot of pressure,” Obindo said.
According to him, prolonged stress reduces the body’s immune system, saying that too much accumulated stress affects both mental and physical health.
The psychiatrist regretted that many people had suddenly slumped and passed out due to accumulated stress.
“Pay attention to your health. Prioritise sleep and rest, because they are fundamental to mental health.
“If you work and die today, someone will replace you at the workplace, but no one replaces you in the family.
“Don’t work Monday to Friday, and also during the weekend without making time to rest.
“Even during the working hours, there should be a ‘timeout session’ for a short break because work can be overwhelming sometimes.
“Create time for relaxation and look beyond the economic situation of the country; focus on the positive in every bad situation.
“Go for holidays, vacations, get involved with things that make you happy and socialise with positive people,” he said.
The psychiatrist explained that every human being was expected to spend one third of his/her lifetime to sleep, stressing that an individual was supposed to sleep for six to eight hours per day.
He said it implied that a 45-year-old person was supposed to have slept for 15 years, while a 10-year-old child was expected to have spent four years of his/her life sleeping.
According to him, the reason is that the nerves of the brain repairs and positions itself for better functioning during sleep.
He said sleep deprivation impacted one’s level of productivity at the workplace, adding that it could also lower alertness and concentration.
“Getting a good sleep is extremely important for mental health. It is just as important as eating a balanced diet and exercising. Sleep deficiency has been linked to depression, anxiety and mental distress.
“If one has problem with sleep, the individual may be more likely to feel anxious, depressed or suicidal.
“Poor sleep can make it difficult to cope with even relatively minor stress,” he said.
