From John Dike, Osogbo
A call has gone to journalists in Nigeria to take their health seriously and ensure they go for regular medical check up, considering the stressful nature of job they do everyday.
This call was made by a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Adeoye Oyewole, while presenting a paper at a workshop organized by the final year students of Fountain University, Osogbo, for journalists drawn from across media sectors, held in the university.
He noted that the impact of stress on mental health of Nigerian Journalists intensifies daily in their quest to get timely relevant stories, emphasising that contents of most stories could be depressing.
Oyewole described stress as a state of mental and emotional strain, or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.
He highlighted some of the dangers inherent in not managing stress which are, ulcer and poor concentration, among others.
Dr. Oyewole however advised journalists to capitalise on the most important things in order to reduce unnecessary stress, charging them to always find time to rest in their own interest.
He urged them to do away with alcohol, advising that it is dangerous to their health.
The consultant urged them to go for regular medical checkups alongside emotional intelligence assignment, general health questionnaire to mention but a few.
He concluded by saying that “the whole person live to fulfill the task of living, to love, to learn and to leave a legacy.”
In his paper presentation, a veteran journalist, Dr Liad Teller, advised the participants to count themselves lucky to venture into the noble profession of waking people’s conciousness for the betterment of the society.
Dr. Teller who spoke on behalf of Mr Mugsit Aderibigbe, charged them to always have plan A and B, as it is very compulsory for them to get news stories.
“It a task that must be fulfilled and this is why you must know little about everything, as it is not possible for a reporter not to have story to report daily
“Although, Journalists are not well paid in Nigeria but you have many opportunities to attain higher in life if you can explore them,” the veteran journalist stated.
Responding to the presentations, the Chief Press Secretary to immediate past Osun Governor, Mr Ismail Omipidan, Shina Abukakar and Mrs Toyin Adeoye, enjoined journalists to always find time to rest, despite their tight schedule.
They urged them to find time to discuss issues with people who can assist them.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Director General, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation who also doubled as the Chairman of the event, Mr Rasheed Folaranmi, explained that, journalism generally has built-in stress on its own because it is 24 hours job as the production is yet to complete until it gets to the readers or listeners.
He appreciated the management of the institution for a job well done through training of students.
