Experts who study how our minds work are worried about problems people in Nigeria are facing at their jobs that make them feel stressed and unhappy.
They talked about this online during a special day called World Mental Health Day.
This talk was put together by Dr. Peter Ajanson, who helps young African leaders get better in what they do.
One expert, Dr. Yetunde Awobode, said it’s important for bosses to care about their workers’ feelings and happiness.
She explained that many workers feel bad because they worry about losing their jobs, have too much work, don’t get paid enough, change roles too often, aren’t taught new things, or have mean bosses.
Dr. Awobode said, “We should care about how people feel at work because when people are happy, they do a good job. Work should not make people scared or sad, but should help them feel good. But right now, more people are feeling stressed because of work.”
Another expert, Dr. Tunde Masseyferguson Ojo, who helps manage mental health in Nigeria, talked about needing good help for people’s mental problems, just like the National Mental Health Act says.
He noted that tough rules by the government make people worry about money and their feelings.
“Nigerians are strong, but we need to be careful because tough money rules make people stressed,” he said.
Dr. Ojo also talked about how people sometimes think having mental health problems is bad and asked them to care about their feelings.
He mentioned that there are special places in 18 states where people can get help for mental problems, and he wants more states to do the same.
At the end, Dr. Ajanson advised workers to use their work time well because they spend most of their day at their jobs.