Nostalgic 9ja: October 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Depression in Nigerian Children... Does it Mix?

Historically and presently, both older and younger generation Nigerian parents do not believe that their children can go through depression. Most parents believe they've raised their children with such strong values and qualities, that they don't expect these children can go through the same stressors and triggers that other younger children, teenagers, young adults and adults (under 35 yrs old) of any race, cultural background, or ethnicity go through.

I don't know why Nigerian parents expect so much from their children yet refuse to understand and listen when their children are going through their personal struggles and hard-times. A lot of children who don’t come from financially stable homes tend to have an inferiority complex and pretend that they have a lot at home in order to fit in with their friends at school. A lot of parents train us to believe that being #1 is the only option, and if we cannot achieve it, the children get beaten, scowled, berated and given the impression that we are less accomplished. Methods like these work on some children but there are a certain few that don’t see the bigger picture of why their parents do such things. Even though we don't hear much of Nigerian children and youths committing suicide, I do believe it does exist.

I only spent 5 yrs in Nigeria and I'm totally aware of bullying not only from other children but from parents, family members, teachers and other people around. This takes different forms such as physical, verbal, social and emotional; through alienation, intimidation, indirect bullying, and public humiliation. I’ve heard that there are a few Nigerians coming out the closet about their sexual orientation which in itself is almost impossible to comprehend due to the abominable stigma attached to it.

I know even with all the education Nigerian parents have put their children through; it will not be possible to change the set ways of our parents and the culture and history that they are trying so hard to keep in the changing world.