Makoko Residents Battle Depression After Demolition - Mental Health Crisis

Photo: The Punch

My people, wetin we dey witness for Makoko no be small thing o. As government dey demolish houses left, right and center, our brothers and sisters wey lose their homes dey face serious mental health wahala. And this one no be joke at all.

The Reality of Life After Demolition

Imagine say you wake up one morning, and everything you don work for - your house, your business, your whole life - don scatter like sugar for sand. This na the reality wey many Makoko residents dey face right now. Psychiatrists don begin dey raise alarm say the demolition go cause serious mental disorders for the people wey dem displace.

One mama wey I hear her story, she talk say since dem demolish her house, she no fit sleep well again. Every night, she dey dream say bulldozer dey chase her. Her pikin dem no fit concentrate for school because dem dey wonder where dem go sleep next. This kind trauma no be small something.

Mental Health Experts Dey Sound Warning

Professional psychiatrists don talk am clear say when people lose their homes like this, e dey cause serious psychological damage. We dey talk about depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even suicide thoughts. Some people fit develop what dem call 'adjustment disorders' - meaning say dem no fit cope with the sudden change for their life.

Dr. Adebayo, one psychiatrist for Lagos, talk say 'When you remove person from environment wey dem don know all their life, especially without proper alternative, na like you dey uproot tree from fertile soil put am for desert. The shock alone fit kill the person's spirit.'

The Children Dem Suffering Pass

The pikin dem wey dey affected by this demolition, their own case worst pass. Small children wey no understand wetin dey happen go just see say their papa and mama dey cry everyday. Some of dem don start dey wet bed again, even though dem don pass that stage before. Others dey become aggressive or completely withdrawn.

One teacher for nearby school talk say she don notice say some children wey their family house dem demolish no dey participate for class activities again. 'Dem just dey sit down dey look outside window, like say dem dey wait for miracle to happen,' she talk.

Community Support Systems Don Scatter

You know say for places like Makoko, community bond strong well well. People dey depend on each other for survival. But when demolition happen, e no just scatter houses - e scatter the whole social network wey people dey use survive.

Mama Kemi, wey don live for Makoko for over 20 years before the demolition, talk say 'Na here I born all my pikin dem. Na here I get my customers for my fish business. Now wey everywhere don scatter, I no know how I go take start again. Sometimes I just dey cry for nothing.'

Wetin Mental Health Experts Dey Recommend

The psychiatrists wey dey study this situation don give some recommendations for how we fit help these people recover from the trauma:

• Community therapy sessions: Group counseling where people fit share their experiences and support each other
• Children-focused mental health programs: Special attention to the pikin dem through play therapy and school counseling
• Economic empowerment programs: Help people rebuild their businesses and livelihood
• Temporary but stable housing: Make sure say people get somewhere decent to stay while dem dey plan their next move
• Cultural and spiritual support: Include traditional healers and religious leaders for the healing process

Government Need to Think Am Well

While development and urban planning important, government need to consider the human cost of these demolitions. Before you scatter people's life, make sure say you get proper plan to resettle them. The trauma wey people dey face now fit affect generations to come.

Some experts dey suggest say instead of just demolishing everything, government fit consider gradual relocation with proper support systems. Give people time to prepare mentally and emotionally for the change.

How We Fit Help Our People

As concerned Nigerians, we no fit just siddon dey look our people suffer mental breakdown. NGOs, churches, mosques, and community organizations need to come together provide emotional support for these displaced families.

Mental health professionals also need to volunteer their services to help people cope with the trauma. Sometimes, just having someone to talk to fit make all the difference for person wey dey struggle with depression and anxiety.

The Makoko demolition don show us say urban development without human consideration na recipe for disaster. As we dey plan for better Lagos, make we no forget say behind every building wey we demolish, real human beings with feelings and dreams dey live there.

Our people need healing, support, and hope for the future. And na all of us responsibility to make sure say dem get am.