Dear Friends,
I want to use this moment to discuss the reality of mental health issues which has attained an alarming rate amongst us.
Nick Imudia was my Vice President at Nokia when I joined and he was a leader par excellence in every single sense.He loved living life and enjoyed it to it's fullest.
At that time,he was the highest ranking Black Man in the whole of Nokia world wide and he was moved to Nigeria as the Vice President haven lived in Finland from the age of 17.
When I say he was a happy man...he was a very happy man who laughed every time,joked and helped people.When a re-org took place at our place of work,he went over and beyond to ensure those affected got jobs elsewhere.
Twice married,first to a Nigerian and then to a Finn,he died as the MD of a Device Finance and Solar Solutions Company based in Kenya.
He committed suicide on Tuesday after jumping from the balcony of his apartment in Lekki.
We're all still in shock with many saying it's "impossible for him to commit suicide".
There are lessons to be learnt from this painful loss and from people going through depression:
1. Depression affects both the rich and the poor,young and old,male or female
2. Women suffer from pre and postpartum depression and for some that are approaching menopause....they also go through mood swings with the potential to suffer from menopausal depression
3. The happiest person within the crowd might become depressive whilst in that same crowd,the saddest person might be happier in its true sense.
4. Depression is not a spiritual attack and when identified,medical help should be sought
5. Reach out to friends or family members once in a while especially with the current economic turndown.
6. Stigmatizing people suffering from Depression only makes the situation worse.Let's support and encourage people suffering from depression
7. Children and adolescents suffer from Body Dysmorphia or Bullying leading to depression.Let us discourage body shaming (calling someone Orobo or Lepa affects the self confidence of that child) and we should take issues of bullying against our children seriously.
8. As parents,once you notice any child trying to isolate himself or herself, please monitor that child.This also applies to adults
9. Encourage people going through trauma or a loss to speak with people around them and possibly seek the assistance of a Psychotherapist...we have become "hardened" to events around us and believe "Nigerians or Africans" are strong
10. As a man,there is nothing wrong with showing emotions.The age old cliche that "Men don't cry or shouldn't show emotions" is wrong!
Life is ephemeral and fleeting!