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Mental Health Isn’t About Crazy People, It’s About All Of US – Akindotun Merino

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Building And Reinforcing Teams (14)
Prof. Akindotun Merino, Chief Executive Officer of JARS Education Group and the President of JARS Therapeutics

   John Michael Ojo

The issues of mental health in contemporary times have gone beyond those normally identified with crazy people on the street. These issues have become  a silent pandemic as one in every four persons is a victim of mental health.

This was the position of the Chief Executive Officer of JARS Education Group and the President of JARS Therapeutics, Prof. Akindotun Merino.

Prof. Merino  spoke at a programme organised by the Asake Centre, a Community Trauma Care Centre in  Lagos State put up by Merino with the aim of creating trauma awareness, providing affordable, available, social and psycho-social support to all Nigerians who are traumatised.

The California-based mental health expert stated that trauma among the old and the young is on the rise. Hence, the need for urgent preventive and support measures.

Merino, a Mental Health Commissioner in California, USA, said that “trauma is pervasive in Nigeria and when we talk about trauma, we are not just talking about somebody getting into an accident but rather emotional trauma.

“I’m talking about such high stress because of the things we do and everybody just says deal with it or you will be ok.

“There is rape, suicide, high rate of depression and even traffic can cause high stress.

” We have something called adverse child experiences, we have children who have experienced adversity growing up, children whose parents or guardians were abusive towards them, your boss that is being abusive towards you.

“Anything that has come to distort your life; divorce, living in a marriage that is filled with domestic violence or abuse of drug.

 

“When you hear people abuse drugs, sometimes it is not because they want to abuse it, sometimes it’s just to douse the pain of what they are experiencing

“And so, in this continent and in this nation particularly, we have to start thinking about mental health.

“Do you know that Nigeria as a country actually  loses  fifty-seven billion naira per year on mental health issues? Those are people who don’t go to work, who are not performing at their best because they have some forms of psychosis or they have some kind of depressed state that is happening with them.

“This is not just about crazy people, this is about all of us. It is not about somebody who is on the street who is mad, no, it is about all of us. It is about your father, it is about your mother, it is about yourself, about your children, it is that we are psychologically sane, it is that we are emotionally healthy, it is that you are financially buyable, it is that we are socially connected and it is that we are a community helping each other, so that we can be a better Nigeria.

“No matter how smart you are, no matter how intelligent you are, if you are not mentally well, you will not become the best of yourself.”

READ ALSO: Woman As A Powerful Force For National Development

According to Merino, JARS Therapeutics Centre will complement other government- owned mental health facilities in the state. She further noted that the centre would not act as an in-patient facility but one in which individual could easily work in and get assistance from mental heath professionals.

“What we are doing is for the community, is for the person who does not need medication but they know that there is something wrong with them, are not living their best lives and need somebody to talk to.

“We have trauma-trained specialists because we are introducing community trauma health but we also have an institute called JARS Institute and we have trained about sixty trauma specialists between 2020 and today and so, we have them in the country, we want people to know that they are there”, she said.

Stressing the importance of the centre, Merino  also lamented the lack of adequate psychiatric facilities in the country.

” It is so important because we have 250 psychiatrists or less in this country in a nation of two hundred million people. The number is just unbelievable.

Mental Health Isn't Just About Crazy People, It's About All Of US - Akindotun Merino

“So what we are doing is to bridge the gap. While the government takes care of the mentally ill, we want to take care of the middle, before you get to the place where you lose it, commit suicide, before you get to a place where you have some form of psychosis we want to be there providing affordable care. So nobody is turned away, if you don’t have money you can  come, but if you do we can charge”, she noted.

On the rate of those who suffer from trauma in the country, the mental health specialist stated that “one in every four person does”. she also stated that the Nigeria government has also come up with such a report in the past.

READ ALSO: Develop Self-Confidence: A Success Skill

She disclosed that the centre would collaborate with government and non-government organisations both locally and internationally in pursuing its objectives by creating trauma awareness in the country. She also revealed that the government could earn more than N57 billion in revenue yearly if  mental health challenges are addressed in the country.

Merino warned that if trauma issues are not properly handled, they could affect many generations of the individual through a process called epic-generics.

“If something happened to your grandfather or your grandmother and they didn’t take care of it, maybe they were abused somewhere or maybe they where pained in some kind of way and they didn’t take care of, it will move from one generation to another. The children would experience the pain of something they where not part of and this can go up to the fourteenth generation”, she said.

On what could be done, Merino stated that a communally could heal together

“What trauma has come to do is to destabilise your life, to take you away from your source of being. So, communally we heal together. According to her, it is in the context of relationship that we get hurt and also it is in the context of healthy relationship that we get healed. She therefore advised that one should “find those relationships that are healing and begin to nurture them as these would enable us to build a healthy community.”.

On his part, Toyin Sombe, a Counselling and Clinical Psychologist, disclosed that it was of no secret that without mental health there is no health as the brain which he referred to as the governor of the human system would be in disarray.

He stated that the programme was kick- starting from Lagos as the state remains the only state in Nigeria which seems to be concerned with mental health challenges in the country.

Also, a Psychiatric Consultant and the Medical Director of Tranquil and Quest Behavioral Health, Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri,  Stated that “trauma is a significant stressful life event that happens on individuals and many times, the individual is not expecting it and does not have the resources to cope with that problem at that time.”

She, however, noted that trauma differs in many people and could be affected by age, social status, economic status and emotional state of mind.

“Generally what you should look out for is a deviation from the norm. Has this person changed from how they behave, how they appear, how they look, how they dress, how they speak, how they express their thought, are they keeping to self, are they sleeping more or less, eating more or less, are they becoming more aggressive or are we noticing that in a bit to cope with their stress they are turning into harmful coping strategies such as drinking alcohol excessively, use of marijuana, or other illicit harmful substances?

“When people are under a lot of stress, they start cutting themselves, think of taking their own life and may eventually commit suicide.”

She maintained that these were the different presentations of people with trauma.

Mental Health Isn't Just About Crazy People, It's About All Of US - Akindotun Merino

Abiri said that “it was important for people to know that if your are traumatised you are not alone.

“Trauma happens to us at different stages of our lives but the most important thing is getting the help you deserve as soon as possible.

“That the help you deserve should be like a physical First-Aid”, she said.

She hoped that the initiative would not only increase the awareness of trauma but mental health in general.

She warned that the abuse of drugs especially “crack cocaine” among adolescents and teenagers was on the increase.

Dr Olayinka Jibunoh, a consultant psychiatrist and psychologist, who represented the First Lady, noted that the Lagos State government was committed to the wellbeing and welfare of residents and as such, no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that residents of the state get the best form of health care, including mental health in the state.

READ ALSO: Performance Management

Narrating her story, a  mental health trauma survivor, Mrs Eniola Adetunro, who was among the panellists revealed how she became traumatised after being raped at the age of 13 by seven men and taken advantage of by her step brother whom she confided in as the brother became another rapist who slept with her severally, a condition which almost shattered her dreams, affecting her education, self-esteem and the early stage of her marriage until she discovered the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba where she was helped.

While  responding to newsmen, the executive director of Virgins Pride Foundation, Lagos State, Dr. Nkechi Cicilia Odebiyi, noted   that the wellness centre will help to reduce the number of  people walking on the street. She stressed that most of the youths come from dysfunctional homes with nobody to talk with and are often left in the hands of religious leaders who offer prayers but never attend to the psycho-social needs of these individuals. She also hopes that Nigerians will take the opportunity of the centre by seeking professional help for a better society.

 

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Mental Health

Building And Reinforcing Teams (3) (16)

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Building And Reinforcing Teams (14)

By Akindotun Merino
When you find yourself excessively self-oriented, this is a sign that you need to deepen your humility and refocus on serving others. Here are some ways to help you foster a greater sense of humility:

Allow others to be first and foremost. Insisting on being the first in line, the first to raise your hand in a class, the first to get the parking spot, and so on, has a tendency to inflate one’s sense of self-importance. However, when you allow others to have the spotlight or be first, it gives you a better vantage point to appreciate their gifts and what they are able to bring to the table. And when you can do this, you actually find yourself in a better position to lead others because you understand how they can best contribute.

Don’t insist on being right. Nobody likes to be wrong, including other people. When you are wrong it puts you in a vulnerable position, which can be scary. However, vulnerability is often what makes a person beautiful and appreciable. Allowing others the legitimacy of their beliefs without correction from you is a charitable act.

Listen to what other people think more than telling them what you think. Dale Carnegie once said that the sweetest sound to anyone is the sound of their own voice. Really paying attention to what other people have to say without having to correct or undermine them helps you to stay oriented outward rather than being self-absorbed.

READ ALSO: Building And Reinforcing Teams 2 (15)

Try not to judge others. An old saying goes like this, “When you point a finger at someone else, you have three fingers pointing back at you.” While it is tempting to judge another person, to assess what they are doing and how they are doing it, when you do so, you are presuming that you know better. Unfortunately, unless you have lived the experiences of another person, you cannot know what is best for them. Your grasp on another person’s situation will always be incomplete because you don’t have the complete picture.

Finally keep your balance. Throughout the whole process of becoming a more effective leader and a more effective human being, two tools can help smooth the way. The first is developing a greater sense of gratitude. When you wake up in the morning, or while you drink your coffee or eat breakfast, either write down in a notebook or type on your computer a list of five things for which you are grateful. If you keep this gratitude journal every day, it will have a cumulative effect on your keeping a positive outlook.

The second tool’s importance cannot be understated. No matter how much you have on your plate at any given time, it is important that you take the time to play. Whether this is a hobby such as painting or an activity such as playing video games, make a point of scheduling play time for yourself at least two to three times a week. This will help you to balance out all the stress you have in your life.

Dr. Akindotun Merino is a Professor of Psychology, CEO of Jars Group and Mental Health Commissioner in California. Feel free to share your successes and challenges:

Prof. Akindotun Merino
info@akinmerino.com
YouTube.com/akinmerino
Instagram: @drakinmerino 

Twitter: @drakindotun

 

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Mental Health

Building And Reinforcing Teams 2 (15)

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Building And Reinforcing Teams (14)

By Akindotun Merino
Often you may want to give team members a break from working on their normal projects to meet as a team and improve team morale or functioning. Sometimes getting a team together for a meeting or a team building activity can actually be an exercise in futility. In order to use meetings and team building exercises effectively, it is helpful to have specific goals in mind, to identify those goals to your team members, and to follow up. For example, doing a trust building exercise after a time when team members were at each other’s throats is helpful, but if you only do the trust building exercise the one time, after a while team members may forget the point or lose the benefits they gained from engaging in the exercise the one time. When planning a meeting, for instance, identify why the meeting is necessary and plan an agenda to keep the meeting organized. Sometimes the necessity is quite simple. For example, scheduling time for team members to play together can help them to recharge after a particularly grueling project. It can also help them build more of a rapport with each other. Having specific goals for an activity does not preclude having an activity achieve multiple goals.

When planning team-building exercises, make sure that you don’t undermine your attempt to improve your team. Here are some suggestions of what to avoid in team building:

  • Make sure that your team-building goals are relevant to your team’s needs, so that they are worth taking regular time away from other work to improve.
  • Make sure that your team-building activities are not simply one-time affairs; but that they are consistently worked on to reinforce your goal for the exercise.
  • While athletics can be fun for many employees, they can also be destructive towards building team morale, especially if they are focused simply on competition and winning.
  • If you use team-building exercises, try to incorporate them more frequently than once or twice a year. Incorporating these exercises monthly or weekly helps to reinforce your goals.

If you cannot lead yourself effectively than you will never be able to get others to follow you. The most important habit that effective people can have, whether they lead others or not, is to be proactive. Think of proactive as the opposite of reactive. Instead of having the world act upon you, you take action to make yourself into the kind of leader anyone would follow.

If you have been working on your mission statement and identifying your core values, this question is probably not too difficult to answer. If you understand what you value in both yourself and in others, then you can work at shaping yourself into that kind of leader. Keep in mind that developing into the kind of leader that you would follow involves constantly re-assessing where you are at in terms of your values, your goals, and your overall mission. The further you go down the path of leadership, the more necessary it becomes to refine your skills and improve yourself. This requires both detachment and self-honesty. Being detached means that you are able to dispassionately observe where you are strong and where you are weak. Self-honesty is the capacity to identify personal strengths and weaknesses.

READ ALSO: Building And Reinforcing Teams (14)

In order to be an effective employee, an effective leader, and an effective person, you must have the capacity to reflect and be aware of yourself. Being self-aware involves multiple dimensions of the self. Taking care of physical needs through exercise and maintaining a good diet are factors in being aware of your physical self. Disciplining your mind through meditation that allows you to manage your emotions effectively is an example of developing your emotional and psychological awareness. You also want to have a good idea of the big picture. Are you satisfied with where you are and where you are going? Imagine once again that you are at your funeral. How would you imagine the things people have to say about you would square with your life’s goals and your mission statement?

Self-improvement is a long term game, but as you work continuously on improving yourself, it is important to keep certain pitfalls in mind.

  • Navel gazing can occur when you become overly focused on yourself. This means that you become self-absorbed and self-centered.
  • Another pitfall of working to improve yourself constantly is that you can become overly convinced of your own self-importance.
  • Finally, if you are always working to improve yourself, you may find that you have gotten stuck in this sense that you are never good enough. A better way to frame this is to think that where you are is always good, but that there is also always room for improvement.

Dr. Akindotun Merino is a Professor of Psychology, CEO of Jars Group and Mental Health Commissioner in California. Feel free to share your successes and challenges:

Prof. Akindotun Merino
info@akinmerino.com
YouTube.com/akinmerino
Instagram: @drakinmerino 

Twitter: @drakindotun

 

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Mental Health

Building And Reinforcing Teams (14)

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Building And Reinforcing Teams (14)

By Akindotun Merino
Teams don’t immediately come together and experience success overnight. In fact, it takes a good leader to work at turning a group of people into an effective team. This module explores the various aspects of building and improving your team.

One of the most important activities that you will need to engage in as a leader is constantly assessing the state of your team, each individual employee, and yourself. Before you can put employees in positions to succeed, you have to have a good idea of what their strengths and weaknesses are. Here are some guidelines for how to assess team and team member strengths and weaknesses:

Include other team-members in the assessment process. Allow each member of the team a chance to identify both his or her and other team members’ strengths and weaknesses. Ideally, this can be done privately so that no team-member develops resentment towards another for perceived unwarranted criticism. This also allows you to compare your assessment with others.

READ ALSO: Trusting Your Team 2 (12)

When an employee or the entire team experiences a failure or a success, try to identify why this came about, and who was most responsible. In the case of failure, identifying the responsible person is not about casting blame, but it is about identifying what went wrong, so you know where and how to improve. When you are analyzing a success, however, it is good to give credit when someone (other than yourself) was particularly instrumental in that success.

Determine how consistently an employee performs in a given role. If that employee is consistently unsuccessful, try to find another opportunity and role for that employee to be successful. Identify the skills necessary for success in certain roles, and when an employee is consistently successful in a role, note these skills as part of that employee’s skill set. If an employee fails to perform consistently, you may also identify these skills as weaknesses in that particular employee.

Observe employees when they act alone or outside of the team structure in order to determine how their strengths and weaknesses might change in different contexts. Perhaps it is not a lack of a particular skill that is the weakness, but an inability to apply that skill in a team setting, or vice versa.

Dr. Meredith Belbin identifies nine team roles that can help make up a balanced and effective team.

The Plant. The plant is the highly creative and unconventional member of a team. They tend to be strong in thinking outside the box but their primary weakness is a tendency to be forgetful.

The Monitor Evaluator (ME). This person is good at providing a logical and dispassionate view of the range of decisions before a team. They tend to have difficulties with being overly critical and slow-moving.

READ ALSO: Trusting Your Team 3 (13)

The Coordinator (CO). This employee (often it will be you) helps the team to focus on goals and to delegate work effectively. They tend to either over-delegate or under-delegate and end up micromanaging.

The Resource Investigator (RI). This employee will tend to understand how your team’s work can best translate to the rest of the world. They will be good at understanding the competition and developing connections with others outside and inside the team framework, but they can have difficulties with following up on or getting in-depth information.

The Implementer. This role involves someone who is good at taking theory and putting it into practice. They try to find strategies on how to make an idea work in the most efficient manner. Implementers have difficulty considering alternative approaches and may be slow to give up on a favored idea.

Completer-Finishers. These team members excel at the end of a task. They make sure everything is functioning ideally. These employees act as a kind of quality control. Their strength, having high standards, can also be their weakness, in that they tend to be perfectionists.

Team workers (TW). These employees are really good at smoothing over the tensions and difficulties that come up when people are working hard on creative endeavors. They excel at working and playing with others, but they can be indecisive when it comes time to make team decisions about the best course of action.

Shapers. These employees act as a kind of engine for the team. They can effectively get others going and create momentum. Typically shapers are highly driven and enthusiastic individuals. Their weakness tends to be being overly aggressive and temperamental in their desire to get the team’s work done.

The Specialist. The specialist of the group might only know how to do one thing, but she or he is an expert at it. Their focus is narrow and in-depth, which can be both their strength and their weakness.

An ideal team will be balanced with all nine roles being expressed. Since many teams are smaller than nine people, you may find that different team members excel at multiple roles. When you identify a key strength in one of your employees, for example, an employee who is highly energetic, then you can help them fulfill one or more roles on your team. The energetic employee for example might be good at being a shaper as well as being a resource investigator. Someone who is highly critical can be either a completer finisher or a monitor evaluator or both.

Dr. Akindotun Merino is a Professor of Psychology, CEO of Jars Group and Mental Health Commissioner in California. Feel free to share your successes and challenges:

Prof. Akindotun Merino
info@akinmerino.com
YouTube.com/akinmerino
Instagram: @drakinmerino 

Twitter: @drakindotun

 

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