Health

Psychiatrists link Nigerians’ declining happiness to economic hardship

Published

1 year ago

May 8, 2025

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/doctors.jpg&description=Psychiatrists link Nigerians’ declining happiness to economic hardship', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/doctors.jpg&description=Psychiatrists link Nigerians’ declining happiness to economic hardship', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

ADVERTISEMENT

By Francesca Hangeior

Psychiatrists have attributed Nigeria’s declining ranking in the World Happiness Report to worsening economic hardship, insecurity and political instability.

They warned that the rising cost of living and social instability was increasing anxiety, depression, and suicide rates among Nigerians, predicting a reduction in the country’s life expectancy rate.

The mental health experts who was speaking in an interview said that the inability of many citizens to afford necessities such as food, healthcare, and social interactions has significantly reduced happiness levels.

They noted that financial stress has prevented people from engaging in social activities that previously served as coping mechanisms, further worsening their emotional and mental well-being.

The experts urged the government to reverse the harsh economic situation and encouraged individuals to assist those in need and keep the hope alive.

On Thursday, March 20, the world marked the International Day of Happiness.

The Global Happiness Report released on Thursday by the Global Happiness Council ranked Nigeria 105th out of 147 countries.

The report evaluates happiness levels based on individuals’ assessments of their lives.

This year’s report showed that Nigeria, which used to rank the happiest African nation, now ranks 10th, dropping three steps from its usual position.

In 2003, the New Scientist magazine in the United Kingdom named Nigeria the happiest country in the world out of 65 countries surveyed.

In 2010, the Gallop World Poll also ranked Nigeria the happiest place on earth out of 53 countries surveyed.

Gradually, Nigeria’s rank began to drop as the years went by.

For example, before 2021, the World Happiness Report ranked Nigeria the sixth happiest country out of 155 countries.

But in 2024, the WHR placed Nigeria as the 102nd happiest nation out of 143 countries.

Speaking on the health and mental implications of the 2025 WHR, the President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Professor Taiwo Obindo, stated that the sad economic and socioeconomic realities of the country, insecurity situation and political difficulties were factors dwindling the happiness levels of many citizens.

He added that the lack of happiness could increase anxiety and depression levels, consequently causing a rise in death by suicide.

The don further noted that unhappy people were less likely to give their best at work or at home, leading to reduced economic output and a negative impact on the future of children in the country.

“The first question we need to ask ourselves is, what has driven us back, and then why we are where we are? What are the implications, is it the way and the manner in which things are going in the country? We are largely, generally, having difficulties economically, in terms of security, even politically. Things happening around us are not cheering.

“So, one won’t be too surprised that the cost of living is so high, the standard of living is so low, that people cannot afford to live a decent life,” Obindo said.

The APN president further stated that measures that previously helped Nigerians to socialise and be cheerful have become unaffordable, stating that these contributed to a drop in the country’s WHR.

The psychiatrist stated that a rise in unhappiness would lead to higher depression rates, which could, in turn, contribute to an increase in physical illnesses like high blood pressure.

“It affects virtually all parts of our body, all parts of our systems. And of course, those who are using one medication to control their blood pressure may need to do more. Of course, one of the things that I didn’t mention is that the costs of drugs have multiplied and a lot of people are not able to afford to buy some of the drugs for their medication. Therefore, situations are becoming more and more complicated.

“So, in all this, somebody who has hypertension and doesn’t have good control of it and needs more medication, because they cannot afford, may develop a stroke, may have a heart attack, and therefore, their life is cut short,” the don said.

The APN president further noted that the situation would reduce the life expectancy rate of Nigerians.

He warned, “It’s a vicious cycle and we need to have this reversed soon enough for people to go back to living their happy and their social life.”

Obindo urged the government to intervene and reverse the harsh economic situation to make life easy for Nigerians, stating that the high cost of things was becoming unbearable.

“At the community level, we must be our brother’s keeper. There are those who are more well-to-do, they must reach out, particularly in this particular season of fasting and lent. We must set up a good way of reaching out to people and the true less privileged around us.

“We must find a way of increasing job opportunities and making sure that the cost of living is reduced. We need to reverse the trend of pharmaceutical companies leaving the country.

“On the individual and family level, we must make sure that we don’t allow this situation to overwhelm us. We should make sure that we don’t allow our joy to disappear and be taken away by the situations around us. There is hope. Hope is what keeps us going. Things may not be as we expected now, but if we look and hope for a better tomorrow, that keeps us going,” the psychiatrist advised.

Also, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Samuel Aladejare, emphasised the importance of happiness, explaining that when people are happy, the brain releases dopamine, a hormone that boosts motivation.

He noted that when dopamine was not released, it meant that there was sadness, adding that when sadness got to an extent, it led to depression, death by suicide and poor mental health outcomes.

The psychiatrist further stated that the inability to conveniently meet basic needs such as food, shelter and social connections has contributed to Nigeria’s declining WHR.

Aladejare also highlighted factors such as rising food prices, insecurity, kidnappings, and brutality from security agents, adding that the increasing migration rate has further impacted the social well-being of Nigerians.

The psychiatrist noted that countries that have maintained a top rank for a long time had robust social packages for their people, describing them as “one of the most secure countries in the world.”

He further noted that unhappiness could cause an inability to sleep, anxiety, and depression, leading to high blood pressure or worsening present health conditions.

Aladejare added that it could cause less concentration at work, leading to avoidable mistakes and frustration.

The mental health experts noted the inability of persons living with certain health conditions to afford their medications and treatment, would lead to poorer health outcomes and avoidable deaths.

Aladejare advised, “It would be good for Nigerians, now that we have this kind of situation, to prioritise their health. Prevention should rank high in everybody’s priorities and three measures are very important for preventing whatever illness it is, exercise, good sleep and proper diet. Those three things would save us a lot of issues.

“Yes, things are difficult but you can decide that whatever happens, you make time for exercise. 30 minutes in the morning or night or of more daily serious activities. Also, eating healthy. I know that has also become very difficult but try doing the least that we can do to make that happen. Despite how difficult it is, get adequate rest.”

He advised persons with non-communicable illnesses to adhere to their drug regimen to prevent further complications that required expensive interventions.

The mental health expert also advised avoiding negative news or social media posts and encouraged the use of good music to lighten the mood regardless of the situation.

Health

Couple Told They Would ‘Never’ Conceive Defy Medical Odds, Welcome Healthy Triplets

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

A couple who were told by fertility specialists that they would most likely never conceive naturally have celebrated the birth of triplets, describing the children as nothing short of miraculous.

Marina and Bishoy Salib, a married couple from England, said they were left heartbroken in 2024 after doctors informed them that their chances of having biological children together were extremely slim. Despite the discouraging prognosis, they refused to give up hope. Just over a year later, they welcomed three healthy babies.

Their extraordinary journey began after months of unsuccessful attempts to start a family. Seeking medical advice, Marina, now 30, underwent an Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test in August 2024. The test measures the level of anti-Müllerian hormone in the body, which is commonly used as an indicator of a woman’s ovarian reserve, or the number of eggs remaining.

According to the results, Marina had a significantly diminished ovarian reserve, leading specialists to conclude that natural conception would be highly unlikely.

Speaking in an interview with SWNS, Bishoy, 33, recalled the devastating consultation.

“They told us that my wife couldn’t get pregnant,” he said. “When we saw the fertility specialist, he made it clear that there was no chance for her to conceive naturally.”

The diagnosis deeply affected Marina, who struggled emotionally with the news.

Bishoy said watching his wife cope with the disappointment was one of the most difficult periods of their marriage.

“She was heartbroken and cried a lot. She kept asking herself why she couldn’t have children,” he said.

Although medical professionals suggested using an egg donor as the most realistic option for pregnancy, the couple said the recommendation conflicted with their deeply held religious beliefs as members of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

“I told the specialist that we are Christians and we believe in miracles,” Bishoy explained. “Even our general practitioner repeated that egg donation was the only possible route, but we remained committed to our faith.”

While remaining open to adoption if necessary, the couple continued praying and hoping for a miracle while trying to conceive naturally.

Their persistence paid off unexpectedly on May 19, 2025.

According to Bishoy, he felt an unexplained urge to ask Marina to take a pregnancy test, even though both of them believed the outcome would be negative.

“She looked at me and asked why she should even bother taking the test after being told she wasn’t producing enough eggs,” he recalled. “Honestly, I still don’t know why I insisted.”

To their amazement, the test came back positive.

Marina was overwhelmed with emotion, unable to believe what she was seeing.

“She couldn’t even stand. She was shaking, laughing and crying at the same time,” Bishoy said.

Still convinced there had been a mistake, Marina reportedly took several more pregnancy tests to confirm the result before finally calling her husband to share the life-changing news.

The surprises did not end there.

During a subsequent hospital appointment, doctors informed the couple that they were not expecting one baby, but three.

On November 28, 2025, Marina gave birth to non-identical triplets a daughter named Miracle and two sons, Levi and Suriel.

Looking back on their remarkable journey, Bishoy said the children are a constant reminder that hope can endure even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances.

The couple now describe their son and daughter as their “miracles,” saying their experience has strengthened both their faith and appreciation for parenthood after overcoming what once appeared to be insurmountable odds.

Health

Ebola deaths exceed 300 in DR Congo – Heath authorities

Published

1 week ago

June 27, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

The Ebola epidemic has claimed more than 300 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a little over one month after it was declared, health authorities said on Friday.

The deadly viral disease, which spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, can cause severe bleeding and organ failure.

A total of 304 people in the DRC have now died of the virus, from 1,115 confirmed infections since the outbreak was detected on May 15, giving a mortality rate of 26.3 percent, the National Public Health Institute (INSP) said.

This is a jump from the 202 deaths confirmed on June 18 by the African Union’s health agency, from 875 confirmed infections — a mortality rate of 23 percent.

The Red Cross warned last week that the outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever has yet to peak and could take up to a year to contain.

In some rare good news, the DRC authorities announced in early June that several Ebola patients had been treated and cured.

Responders to the epidemic, the 17th to hit the vast, unstable central African country, face towering challenges.

No approved vaccines or treatments exist for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus responsible for the latest outbreak to hit the DRC, which is one of the world’s poorest countries.

The three affected provinces in eastern DRC — Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu — have been plagued for three decades by conflict and mass displacement, complicating the response.

The outbreak has spread to neighbouring Uganda, where containment measures have been effective.

Kampala has reported 20 confirmed cases nationwide, including two deaths since May 15. Most of those infected are Congolese nationals who have travelled to Uganda.

On Wednesday, France reported the outbreak’s first confirmed case of Ebola outside Africa — a Congolese doctor who was working in the DRC for the international medical aid NGO ALIMA.

The World Health Organization says there is minimal risk of the virus spreading in Europe and there is no need for travel restrictions.

Air France, on which the doctor flew back to France, has nevertheless suspended all flights to Kinshasa for several days.

– Ituri –

The vast majority of cases in the DRC have been detected in Ituri.

The mineral-rich province is plagued with unrest from a string of rival armed groups, and frequent population movements favour the spread of the disease.

More than 91 percent of all infections have been registered in the provincial capital, Bunia, and more than 82 percent of all deaths.

Efforts to contain the virus have been ratcheted up in Ituri.

But healthcare facilities -– which often operate with limited resources — still lack basic equipment and supplies, such as personal protective equipment and chlorine.

Many clinics set up by the WHO and aid agencies are close to full, the country’s public health agency said.

At least 78 healthcare workers have been infected with the virus, and 18 have died, it added.

Medical and aid workers also have to contend with deep mistrust from some local communities.

Some families have demanded that hospitals hand over the bodies of the deceased, not realising that touching the body puts them at risk of contamination.

The reluctance of some families to allow post-mortem examinations on the victims is also leading to an underestimation of the number of cases, officials said.

AFP

Health

DR Congo Ebola outbreak tops 1,000 cases, kills 254

Published

2 weeks ago

June 23, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

More than 1,000 Ebola infections have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the latest outbreak has killed more than 250 people, official figures showed Monday.

The country’s National Institute of Public Health (INSP) confirmed 1,003 cases and 254 deaths, with a fatality rate of 25 percent.

The latest outbreak of the deadly haemorrhagic fever was declared on May 15.

Almost all cases are in Ituri province in the northeast, a conflict-weary region plagued by armed groups.

In total, three provinces have been affected: Ituri, neighbouring North Kivu and South Kivu, home to around 15 million people.

The virus has also spread to neighbouring Uganda, where the World Health Organization has recorded 20 cases and two deaths, though Kampala said the situation was “under control” earlier this month.

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment.

Existing Ebola vaccines, developed between 2018 and 2019, are only effective against the Zaire strain, which caused previous major outbreaks.

The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency, warning the outbreak could last months.

“The outbreak was declared around two months after the first suspected deaths were reported… During that time, the disease spread unchecked in ways we still don’t fully understand,” an international aid group representative told AFP, speaking anonymously.

AFP