Abuja residents are adopting different coping strategies, including positive thinking, social support and religious activities, to protect their mental health amid rising living costs and economic hardship.

The residents, who spoke in separate interviews in Abuja, said. Despite the prevailing economic situation being emotionally challenging, they had learnt to manage their expectations and adopt practical measures to avoid unnecessary psychological distress.

Ejiofor Samuel, a resident of Apo, said he had learnt to adapt to the country’s economic realities without allowing them to overwhelm him emotionally.

Mr Samuel said he deliberately avoided dwelling on issues beyond his control, including whether the government was performing well or otherwise, to prevent the prevailing situation from negatively affecting his mental well-being.

“I have learnt to adapt to all situations. Some people think so much about the situation to the extent that they become lean and walk absent-mindedly on the road. To avoid putting too much pressure on myself, I have decided to remain positive and not allow the state of affairs in the country to weigh me down,” he said.

Attah Queen said that although she was currently unemployed and unhappy with her situation, she had resolved not to let her circumstances overwhelm her emotionally.

She said constantly worrying about her unemployment could create additional psychological challenges, adding that she was currently able to meet the basic needs of her child.

Ms Queen, however, acknowledged that staying at home without a job was undesirable but said she remained determined to be hopeful.

She said the support she received from family members had also helped her cope, adding that life would have been considerably more difficult without their assistance.

Another resident, Bukola Olajide, a mother of three, said she deliberately engaged in activities that helped distract her whenever she noticed herself becoming overwhelmed by thoughts about the country’s economic situation.

Ms Olajide said she had adopted a practical approach to managing her family’s needs by living within the resources available to them.

“It’s what I have that we all eat and live with. If it is available, we manage it, and if it is not, we understand that it is not available and adjust accordingly,” she said.

Ms Olajide added that she avoided allowing financial pressures to disrupt her sleep and emotional stability, stressing the importance of maintaining peace of mind despite prevailing challenges.

Daniel Ibrahim, a civil servant residing in Kubwa, said economic hardship had increased his anxiety, caused sleeplessness and affected his emotional well-being. Mr Ibrahim said the situation was also affecting his productivity at work, as he constantly worried about meeting his financial obligations, particularly his house rent, which he said had doubled within a year.

“Rising food prices, expensive accommodation and transportation costs are really taking a toll on my mental health. On top of that, my landlord just increased my rent from N500,000 to N1 million, so thoughts of how I am going to meet up keep consuming me.

“The prices of almost everything have skyrocketed, but my little salary has not increased. So, tell me, how do I sleep knowing I have huge bills to pay?” he asked.

He said his situation had become so overwhelming that he was considering seeking professional help.

Meanwhile, Mabel Anthony, a school teacher, said she had increased her participation in church activities as a way of protecting her mental health. Ms Anthony said prayer, worship and fellowship with other members of her religious community provided emotional comfort, hope and a sense of belonging.

“It has played a big part in helping me cope with the psychological pressures associated with economic hardship,” she said.

Habila Manasseh, a resident of Jikwoyi, said he had deliberately reduced his exposure to distressing news and social media to protect his mental well-being. Ms Manasseh said constant exposure to negative news, economic discussions and social media commentary could intensify his anxiety, prompting him to take a break from such content.

For Martin Lawrence, a commercial motorist, his initial attempt to cope with economic hardship through alcohol consumption had worsened his financial difficulties and emotional well-being.

Mr Lawrence said he subsequently adopted a different approach by spending more time socialising with friends and family.

“Spending more time with family and friends has really kept me grounded after I tried alcohol and it backfired,” he said.

Jurbe Bisji, general secretary of the Nigeria Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP) and a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Baze University, Abuja, said insufficient attention was being paid to the psychological consequences of economic hardship in Nigeria.

Mr Bisji said many people viewed economic hardship largely as a financial problem without recognising its direct implications for mental well-being. He identified anxiety, persistent worry, restlessness, poor concentration, aggression and depression among the common psychological effects of financial stress.

He added that severe cases could also involve psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions.

According to him, early warning signs that financial difficulties were affecting an individual’s mental health included persistent sadness, withdrawal from previously enjoyable activities, tiredness and low motivation.

Other signs, he noted, included strained relationships, unnecessary indebtedness and risky coping behaviours such as substance abuse and sexual promiscuity, particularly when such behaviours persisted beyond two weeks.

Mr Bisji advised individuals experiencing such symptoms to seek professional help early rather than wait for their conditions to deteriorate. He recommended building strong social support networks, speaking out through appropriate channels, remaining hopeful and exploring available economic opportunities.

Mr Bisji urged individuals to distinguish between circumstances within their control and those beyond their capacity to change. The psychologist acknowledged that access to mental health services was gradually improving due to increased awareness but noted that such services remained relatively unaffordable for many ordinary Nigerians.

On government intervention, Mr Bisji stressed the need to provide basic social amenities, improve livelihood conditions and ensure the security of lives and property.

He also called for greater recognition and engagement of mental health professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and counsellors, in preventing and reducing the country’s growing mental health burden.

(NAN)