Experts warn ‘suffering and smiling’ masks mental distress

Experts at the inaugural Nigerian Mental Health Summit have warned that Nigerians' cultural habit of "suffering and smiling" could be masking underlying emotional distress, discouraging people from seeking help. Clinical social worker Kehinde Ekpudu, speaking at the summit, highlighted that Nigerians' emphasis on strength and resilience can make it difficult for individuals to recognize when they need assistance, often resorting to expressions like "I'm just tired" or "It is well" without addressing their internal struggles.

Ekpudu urged mental health professionals to look beyond surface-level descriptions and understand the emotions and circumstances behind them, emphasizing that mental healthcare should address not only symptoms like anxiety and depression but also the experiences, relationships, and identity struggles that contribute to them.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.