One of Africa’s highly sensational stories is that of Emmanuel Oluwasayomi Ahmadu, popularly known as Mr. Voiceover, a graduate from department of Mass Communication in University of Benin (UNIBEN), who hails from Kogi State and has represented his University, Kogi State and Nigeria respectively to bag numerous national and international award competitions, and a current serving corps member in Kwara State, whose inspiring story recently went viral on the internet, served as a source of Inspiration to thons of millions of people worldwide and got him featured on numerous national and international satellite and terrestrial Television Channels, Radio Stations And national newspapers, including on the international television network, British Broadcasting Commission (BBC), ongoing on ‘Great Big Story’ on CNN on his educational ordeals and setbacks on how he enrolled into Sixteen (16) primary schools, attended Fourteen (14) secondary schools, repeated junior and senior classes severally, lost his Dad along the line, took the University Matriculation Exams Five (5) times and wrote o’level exams seventeen (17) times before he secured admission into the University, all due to broken home, has deemed it fit to extend his ongoing nationwide campaign against depression and suicide to Kwara State.
Mr Voiceover has on September 10 World Suicide Prevention Day in Kwara State charged those passing through difficult situation to remain calm and forget suicide thoughts, stressing that suicide can never be a solution to predicaments. His inspiring viral story on how he wrote O’level examinations 17 times is an indication that every problem has solutions and suicidal thought is not the best approach in tackling seemingly difficult situation, revealed this while having a chat with our correspondence on the need to tackle the upsurge of depression and suicide in Nigeria through mental health awareness.
“No matter how much pain you’re experiencing right now, you’re not alone. Some of the finest, most admired, needed, and talented people have been where you are now. Many of us have thought about taking our own lives when we’ve felt overwhelmed by depression and devoid of all hope. But the pain of depression can be treated and hope can be renewed. No matter what your situation, there are people who need you, places where you can make a difference, and experiences that can remind you that life is worth living. It takes real courage to face death and step back from the brink. You can use that courage to face life, to learn coping skills for overcoming depression, and for finding the strength to keep going.
“Remember, your emotions are not fixed, they are constantly changing. How you feel today may not be the same as how you felt yesterday or how you’ll feel tomorrow or next week. Your absence would create grief and anguish in the lives of friends and loved ones. There are many things you can still accomplish in your life. There are sights, sounds, and experiences in life that have the ability to delight and lift you, and that you would miss. Your ability to experience pleasurable emotions is equal to your ability to experience distressing emotions.”
While reacting to question on how to tackle depression and suicidal thoughts, he said the first step in coping with depression is share disturbing thoughts and open up to persons who can share in our burden. According to him, “It may be a family member, friend, therapist, member of the clergy, teacher, family doctor, coach, or an experienced counselor at the end of a helpline. Find someone you trust and let them know how bad things are. Don’t let fear, shame, or embarrassment prevent you from seeking help. And if the first person you reach out to doesn’t seem to understand, try someone else. Just talking about how you got to this point in your life can release a lot of the pressure that’s building up and help you find a way to cope.”
He further revealed his ongoing project by his Non-Governmental Organization, on the Community Mental Health Awareness And Sensitization Programme ongoing across Nigeria, as well as seeking support on his ongoing full-story book publication to be circulated on global bookstores and adopted by examination bodies to serve as a tool to tackle depression and suicide especially amongst youths, also seeking support to have his story (published book) being adapted into a cinema movie to be shown across the world to serve as a ray of hope to curb the problem of depression and suicide across the world.
He also revealed that his team has commenced national orientation campaign tour across all higher institutions and colleges in Nigeria as a way to tackle the alarming rate of depression and suicide amongst youths in higher institutions and secondary schools in the country.
Meanwhile, he seeks funding, support and collaboration from well-meaning and concerned individuals, government parastatals, NGOs, and mental health agencies in Nigeria and globally to support his vision on reducing the rate of depression and suicide in Nigeria by 50 percent through using his story as a way to give back to the country
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