BY KENNETH EZE
In commemoration of the 2021 World Mental Health Day, 9mobile, held the third edition of its Health Talk Series with the theme, ‘Managing stress to increase productivity.’
The session streamed live via Instagram influencer page, Olorisupergal, on Sunday, was facilitated by Dr. Egemba Chionanso Fidelis, a medical doctor, writer, vlogger and public speaker, popularly known in social media circles as ‘Aproko Doctor.’
Egemba remarked that stress was normal as the body’s way of responding to any form of overwhelming demand or threat. “However, it becomes unhealthy and life threatening when it becomes chronic,” he pointed out.
According to him, chronic stress shrinks the size of the brain overtime, therefore reducing productivity level of the individual as the affected person would have to deal with difficulty in concentrating and making decisions.
He added that stress could also increase the risk of conditions like obesity, heart disease, diabetes and depression.
“There is a close link between chronic stress and mental health. When sustained over a long period of time, it can lead to irritability and anxiety. If this continues without proper management, depression sets in,” he said.
Egemba stated that because stress had become a part of life, there was need to learn how to manage the response to it such that it could be kept under control.
He added, “First things first; be aware that you are stressed. Exercise is key in helping to manage stress. Aside the fact that it helps you lose weight and stay fit, exercise releases endorphin, a happy hormone that helps you reduce stress and pain.
“I cannot overemphasize it; healthy eating should be a habit in addition to practicing relaxation techniques like taking deep breaths when you are stressed. In summary maintain healthy social interactions as well.”
On the session, the Executive Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Abdulrahman Ado, said that there was no better time to sensitise the public about the need to master the act of managing stress in order to live a productive lifestyle.
According to him, stress is a common phenomenon in modern life and must be managed properly.
“Mental health is one issue that needs to constantly be on the front burner because of the impact on human lives. As a customer-centric brand that cares about the wellbeing of Nigerians, we are doing what we can to increase awareness through advocacy and ensure that the conversation around mental health is sustained, hence the need for the 9mobile Health Talk Series,” he added.
The Point reports that global stress level reached 40 per cent in 2020, a sharp increase from 35 per cent in 2019 which shows that many more people experienced stress.
“The surge is attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic which has raised serious concerns about stress from a global perspective,” Egemba said.
