Issue #2 - The one about Epilepsy and Mental Health
Before I go on with this month’s newsletter, I would like to acknowledge that May is generally recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. The theme this year is ‘loneliness’. Dear reader, we implore you to reach out to friends and loved ones this period.
it’s mental health awareness month. Please make sure y’all take some space for yourselves everyday. breathe. meditate. talk to someone. it’s ok not to be ok. just know that you have outlets and you never have to deal with anything alone.
Now let’s get to it;
‘Kíkọ́ ni mímọ̀’
The Yoruba saying above literally translates to ‘Knowledge comes by learning’. No adage could possibly encapsulate the essence of this newsletter’s issue any better. Discussions on epilepsy and mental health usually revolve around the premise of ignorance (i.e. the lack of knowledge or information.) Hence, fortifying the case for the need for this newsletter. As implied from the adage, knowledge comes by learning, and I hope all our readers learn a thing or two from this digest.
Abiodun is a 400-level student at the University of Ibadan who resides with his parents in Lagos. He had been away from school for about three months, by virtue of the incessant ASUU strike that mars the Nigerian public education system. On that fateful Thursday, he was out, running an errand across town when he suddenly fell down and started convulsing on the floor. His hands and entire body were jerking violently. Pandemonium and confusion reigned supreme as a crowd quickly gathered around him. Commotion followed as no one seemed to have a clear idea of what to do. The crowd could be grouped into three different categories. First, we had the active participants who had an idea of what they assumed would be helpful and were busy trying to get such items. Then, we had the curious onlookers who were afraid to move close or touch Abiodun for fear that what seemed to be wrong with him – epilepsy, may be contagious via the saliva. And then, we had the prayer warriors, who were convinced that it was a demonic possession or spiritual attack and therefore resorted to fervent prayers to break the spell.
The Purple Awareness Ribbon represents Epilepsy
That is the theme with epilepsy amongst the general populace – ignorance. Epilepsy is a brain disorder which occurs as a result of abnormal electrical activity of the nerves of the brain. Since the brain controls our movement (and our thoughts, behavior and so on), when the nerves of the brain are firing abnormally, it manifests as abnormal muscle contractions and jerky movements. This is what we see as the convulsion and the person falling to the ground. Now, in the scenario given earlier, after a few minutes, the convulsion ended, and Abiodun fell asleep peacefully. The prayers changed to thanksgiving on the ‘triumph’ over the spirit of demonic possession. Others started discussing in whispers, about what they had just witnessed. The consensus was that it was a result of spiritual attack by ‘enemies’ or possession by evil spirits.
What to do when we witness someone having a fit?
The most important point is to appreciate that epilepsy is not contagious and cannot be contracted from the saliva of the patient.
Dos:
· Be calm.
· If there are harmful objects such as chairs or metal around the person, move them away.
· If the person is wearing tight clothes around the neck, such as a tie, loosen it.
· Allow the person free room until the seizure is over.
· After the person recovers, someone should help the person sit up for some time and then help contact their family or friends to help them home.
· Afford the person some privacy, a few individuals can be on hand to offer assistance but forming a crowd of onlookers is not helpful.
DONTs:
· Do not put anything in the person’s mouth – no spoon, wood, oil and any such thing.
· Do not attempt to hold the person’s head or force the mouth open.
And most importantly, what are the Mental Health consequences?
In Abiodun’s situation for instance, when he recovers and looks up to see a crowd gathered all around him, with his head and body covered in all sorts of oils (palm oil, olive oil etc.), he is unlikely to be happy. Persons with epilepsy may be sent away from school, refused permission to marry, and denied job opportunities. Thus, depression and anxiety may occur among these people. These are often worsened by stigmatization and discrimination, leading to a feeling of isolation from society.
As such, the onus is on us all to show empathy and support for affected persons, while encouraging them to seek adequate evaluation and treatment.
Note: Epilepsy is a chronic condition and as such, we talk about controlling the condition with medication as opposed to talking about cure. This is the case with all chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
Huge thanks to Dr. Jubril Omuya Abdulmalik, who lectures with the Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan for inspiring and helping with this newsletter.
That is it from us this week. See you next month. We got a lot of mentions and direct messages on social media telling us how much you love the newsletter, but it’s not translating unless you share. Please take some time to share the newsletter today if you enjoy it and be sure to leave a comment.
Ciao.
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Lagos, Nigeria