Dedoyin Ajayi: Surround Yourself With People Who Genuinely Love And Validate You
Mental health is often misunderstood, especially by those who have not suffered from it. It is not well prioritised in our society, as people are not well informed on what mental health actually looks like. But Dedoyin Ajayi is now changing that narrative. The psychotherapist with a specialty in Emotional Health and a diploma in Professional Counselling is using her social media platforms to advocate and educate the society on Mental Health. A certified Neuro-linguistic practitioner from the Academy of Modern and Applied Psychology, Dedoyin has a thriving counseling practice with an average of thirty hours per week, vested into both virtual and physical counselling sessions. She currently serves in the capacity of a consultant therapist three organisations, and specialises in helping individuals with suicide ideations, depression, childhood trauma, existential crises, and personality disorders. She shares her inspiring journey exclusively with Esther Ijewere in this insightful interview.
Childhood Influence T
Istarted when I was seven years old; I remember that I’d fantasised about having an office where people came to cry. I’d give them a handkerchief and calm them down. As soon as they felt calm, they’d go outside and pay my secretary. I never quite understood the picture my imagination was painting, but I knew it was my very first inclination towards preparing me for my present career path
Why I Pitched My Tent In The Mental Health Sector
As a child, I had a profoundly small stature and I was bullied a lot because of this. It created a deep-seated low self-esteem that led to feelings of bitterness, resentment and inadequacy. I recall that I badly wanted to talk to somebody that wasn’t family. I knew something was terribly wrong and I needed help. I, however, didn’t know whom to turn to.
This helpless feeling drove me to a decision: being that person for other people. I wanted to be able to have the listening ears I didn’t have. This led to a voracious research about the mental health sector. My findings were very discouraging at the time, seeing as therapy wasn’t widely accepted and in some cases, even still being stigmatised. I, however, couldn’t deny the deep longing within me; to tread this path and here I am.
Being A Psychotherapist, Neuro-linguistic Practitioner, Consultant And Staying Grounded
To be very honest, I’m not yet proud of how I manage it. Thankfully, I have a wonderful support system in my husband and a few close friends who are to it that I rest and take my structured breaks. Sometimes, I go through mental burnouts, but these episodes are becoming few and far between. I’m however learning to really prioritise my own mental needs as well.
My Mental Health Advocacy On Social Media,
And Its Impact So Far
I became an active mental health advocate in 2018. This stemmed from a discovery I made, which was the fact that the Nigerian mental health community was grossly under-represented on social media. We have a few people doing great things, but there was a huge content and information sparsity that needed to be addressed. It’s why I decided to become a voice of mental health for the Nigerian community.
As for impact, the response was very discouraging at first, but I continued. The past oneyear has however been explosive; the feedback has been wild to say the least. I’ve had people sending me DMS, telling me how a post I made was specifically for them and this spurred them to book a session. Little by little, the stigmatisation surrounding mental health is thinning out. The narrative is changing! I’m super excited.
Why Government Should Support Mental Health
First and foremost, it’s no news that the government has been very laid back about the mental health sector, especially considering the fact that an average Nigerian today has a pertinent issue bothering them. The need for structured emotional support cannot be overemphasised. I’d suggest that the government looks into building Walk-in Therapy Centres just the same way we have clinics. This would enable people to readily have access to subsidised mental health care.
There should also be a massive nationwide awareness sponsored by the government, with the aim of sensitising people about their mental health. The more conversations we have about the mental health sector, the more growth we would experience as a country.
Challenges Of My Work
The primary challenge is stigmatisation. A lot of people reach out to tell me about friends or family members they’d love to recommend therapy to, but would never be open to the idea of speaking to a “shrink” after all they are not mad.
Another issue is social support. While receiving mental health care, it is imperative that the patient has an effective support system, which would further facilitate their recovery. Imagine having to go to work during a depressive phase because your boss doesn’t believe that depression is a valid reason to be exempt from work! This needs to change. All hands must be on deck to help rewrite the narrative about mental illness being a sign of laziness or cowardice. Other Projects And Activities
Presently, I co-founded a mental health awareness initiative themed HEART CAFE with Olamide Ogidan-odeseye (@larmmy).
It’s a weekly meeting that is held on Twitter every Friday, where people come to unburden, network and most importantly receive psycho-educational tips that keep them up to speed about mental health. I also run a Youtube channel (Thededoyinajayi), where I get to talk about mental health issues as well as conversations surrounding relationships and lifestyle.
What I Enjoy Most About My Job
The fulfillment that comes with seeing a client recover, most especially, suicidal clients; there’s nothing quite like it. I’d literally be grinning from ear to ear in gratitude and satisfaction. Read the remaining part of this interview on www.guardian.ng