By Hassan Zaggi
The current socio-economic, political and security challenges in the country have drag most Nigerians to a state of despondency, hopelessness and heavily traumatized, stakeholders in Nigeria have said.
Speaking at a one-day conference on National Rehabilitation and Reformation with the theme: Psychosocial and Mental Health Intervention in Focus, in Abuja, weekend, the stakeholders insisted that the state of hopelessness and despondency has escalated the insecurity situation, criminality and the rate at which most Nigerians leave the country for greener pastures popular known as ‘Japa’.
The conference was organized by Chosen Vessels Global outreach.
The Chief Executive Officer of Chosen Vessels Global Outreach, who is the convener of conference, called for deliberate efforts by the government, the community, critical stakeholders and indeed, the family towards national reformation and rehabilitation.
According to her: “By focusing on the emotional and psychological well-being of our people, we can ignite a resurgence of hope, unity, and resilience that will help us reclaim the very soul of our nation, paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future for all.
“Everyone has a role to play, from the individual, the family, and the community.
“Our families are the building blocks of society, and they play a pivotal role in shaping our values and attitudes, including our mental health.
“As we embark on the journey towards a rehabilitated and reformed Nigeria, let us remember that the strength of our nation rests upon the resilience of its people, and nurturing our mental well-being is paramount.
“By addressing our mental health, we not only heal ourselves but also lay the foundation for a brighter future, not just for us, but for generations to come”.
In his keynote address, the Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Arabi Dasuki, insisted that national rehabilitation and reformation is very crucial, as according to him, “it represents a fundamental shift in how we view individuals who have endured hardships.
“Rather than perpetuating cycles of punishment, rehabilitation offers a pathway to redemption and the opportunity for personal growth.”
He noted that national transformation and rehabilitation also serve as a process which society must undergo through because it forces nation to examine and address structural problems like poverty, prejudice, and inequality that exacerbate the difficulties people experience.
“By changing these processes, we can create a society where everyone has the chance to prosper,” he reiterated.
In his lecture, Martins Obono, who x-rayed the National Anthem, called for patriotism and love for the country by all Nigerians.
He, however, regretted that most “Nigerians have experienced trauma and are prone to re-traumatization.”
Mr. Obono explained that: “Re-traumatization is re-living or re-experiencing a stress reaction similar to that experienced as a result of a prior traumatic event when exposed to or confronted with a new, but similar event, situation or incident.”
“Oftentimes many people experience the distress of re-traumatization as a new experience, without realizing that the experience is associated with an initial or prior trauma.”
