“Learn new things, network/connect with people socially, avoid eye-service, celebrate little achievements, engage in dance therapy, learn resilience strategies and build up a forgiving nature.”
These were some of the recommendations proffered by renowned Clinical Psychologist/Professor of Psychiatry at Lagos State University College of Medicine and Consultant Psychiatrist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Professor Ayodele Olurotimi Coker at the Public Lecture organised by the University of Lagos Medical Centre to kick off the 11th edition of its Annual Health Week.
The highly interactive public lecture which was held on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, UNILAG had the theme Optimising Your Mental Health in a Depressed Economy. It was well attended by dignitaries, representatives of UNILAG management team and members of the university community including the Chairperson of UNILAG Medical Centre Board, Professor (Mrs.) A. O. Oduwole, MBBS, FWACP.
Professor Coker defined mental wellbeing as a state in which an individual should be able to: maximise his other abilities and potentials; cope with normal stress of life; work productively and fruitfully; contribute meaningfully to his or her community; initiate and sustain relationships as well as maintain and sustain a spiritual life. He noted that maintaining mental wellbeing in an economy surrounded by uncertainties and hardship required the acquisition and adoption of stress and emotional resilience coping skills such as Management Science Skills, Healthy & Lifestyle Practices, Physical Workout, Emotional Intelligence, Social Support Network, Psychological Techniques, Breathing & Relaxation Techniques, Humour & Laughter Techniques, Music & Dancing Techniques, among others.
With the tag: A to Z of Emotional Resilience, the Guest Lecturer explained the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle to ensure a sound mind and body. He explained that healthy lifestyle involved:
- Good balanced diet
- Sleeping for 8 hours
- Avoiding sugar, salt, fat and excessive alcohol consumption
- Eating like a king in the morning (not skipping breakfast to avoid the tendency to overeat during lunch, eating like a prince/princess for lunch and like a pauper at night.
Professor Coker concluded his lecture by reiterating that health is wealth emphasising that “the time to invest in your mental health is now! Health is Wealth but Mental Health is True Wealth”.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS represented by the Provost, College of Medicine, Professor David Oke described the choice of the Lecture’s theme as apt, in view of the country’s current economic challenges. He emphasized the importance of the brain as the builder of greatness, adding that “successful people are mentally healthy people as total fitness is incomplete without a sound mind, scholarship thrives and flourishes in mentally stable individuals”.
Similarly in her welcome address, the Director of UNILAG Medical Services, Dr. (Mrs.) O. O. Coker described the Guest Lecturer as an erudite scholar with passion for motivation and changing lives. She encouraged the attendees to pay rapt attention to the Lecture, and take advantage of other events scheduled for the 2023 Health Week. These programmes include:
- The Exhibition and Health Screening Exercise scheduled for Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 9 a.m. at UNILAG Medical Centre Car Park.
- World AIDS Day Sensitization Walk around the campus/faculties on Friday, December 1, 2023.
Delivering the vote of thanks of organisers of the Lecture, Dr. Afolabi Adebayo expressed appreciation to the managements of the University and Medical Centre as well as members of the university community. He affirmed that the recommendations made by Professor Coker would be useful for Nigerians to optimize their mental health in a depressed economy.
The Public Lecture which featured a Question and Answers Session, climaxed with the presentation of awards to seventeen (17) staff of the UNILAG Medical Centre and one (1) staff of United Healthcare, a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO). The awardees are as listed below:
- Dr. Ijeoma Otumu
- Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwayemi Banjoko
- Mrs. Funmilola Serah Aderibigbe
- Mrs. Patience Eyoumowei
- Mrs. Oluwunmi Fajobi
- Mrs. Alice Oloyede
- Mrs. Folasade Okewunmi
- Mr. Peter Odesanya
- Mr. Omotayo Agbogun
- Pharm. Ajoke Akanmu
- Pharm. Oladipupo Ogunjuyigbe
- Pharm. Ijeoma Oyiogu
- Mrs. Motunrayo Jimoh
- Mr. George Ademoye
- Mrs. Adeyanju Ajadi
- Ethel Anukwu
- Mrs. Adebola Owoseni
- Mrs. Lola Olaleye (staff of United Healthcare)
You can download the lecture here.
