The Just Theatre House on Saturday in Lagos staged “Welldone Sir”, a play written by Ola Awakan, which addresses mental health in men.
The play was performed in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day, usually celebrated every Oct. 10.
”Welldone Sir” beams light on the different challenges men are usually confronted with, which lead to depression, suicide, drug addiction and other social vices.
The 50 minutes play tells how men should be appreciated by their spouses, family members and colleagues as often as possible, putting into consideration the huddles they are exposed to in their quest to be responsible individuals.
The play is about the death of Tunmishe, said to be a responsible man and a role model to many while alive.
Tunmishe’s friends felt guilty for not probing into the reason he was not attending social functions just before his dealth as they later discovered that he died due to depression.
Just while digging deep into the cause of Tunmishe’s death, his friends, one after the other discovered that they were also victims of what the deceased went through.
Demilade, another character, thought of commiting suicide because of his fake lifestyle of acquiring loans to live a life of affluence, in his quest to give his wife and children a better life.
The financial institutions where he got the loans plan to confisticate his properties.
Another character lost his self esteem due to his inability to cater for his family while his wife takes over his responsibilities of paying major bills in the family.
Due to this, he no longer gained erection whenever he wants to have intimacy with his wife.
Also, Ken, a medical doctor, got frustrated because as much as he tried to satisfy his family, everyone failed to appreciate him.
Speaking after the performance, Awakan said the play was a call to action for men to start speaking up whenever they were going through any form of depression or maltreatment.
He encouraged women to also cultivate the habit of pampering their men, hugging them and deliberately guiding them against depression.
He said according to a research he conducted, 70 per cent of the cause of depression in men was connected to women related issues, their wives , mothers or sisters.
He noted that the society had a lot to do for the men.
“It’s a story that has caused many men to leave the surface of this earth. It’s a story of how we can avoid this death out of the fact that we bottle up a lot as men. This is a cultural factor.
“While we were growing up, the idea that was put in our mind is that as boys, as men, we have to be courageous, we have to be strong. We don’t have to show to the public that we are timid or that we are weak.
“And because of that, when we’re going through some challenges, no matter how small or big, we bottle them up and we don’t speak up.We don’t cry out to people. And when it gets to a level, it becomes depression.
“The World Health Organisation’ statistics report says that men die by suicide twice as women. So, we feel this is our way of adding to the discourse of saying this has to stop, the silence has to stop, men need to speak up.
“Check on your fellow men. Appreciate your fellow men. Let them know that what they are going through, they are not going through it alone. And they need to be hugged, they need to be smiled to and they need to be appreciated,” he said.
Awakan said the play would be converted to a movie before the next edition of World Mental Health Day.
Also speaking, Ifeanyi Eziukwu, the Director of the play, said it deliberately highlights the essence of hugs, advising men to always hug one another, as it is therapeutic.
“It was very, very challenging doing this. I had to immerse myself into each character. It was a rush of emotions for me at different points.
“And it was mentally draining, it was crazy.
“Every man you see on the streets is going through something, do your best not to add to their problem, do your best, even if it’s a hug, a smile or something,” he said.
Ramanujam Rummy, Executive Director, The Happiness Centre, a stress and anxiety management firm, explained to the audience how to differnciate a healthy mind from an unhealthy one.
“If you can let go of things quickly, it means your mind is healthy, but, if your mind is holding on for a long time, that means it needs a little attention.
“Hygiene for the mind is important. The way we go out and we come back, you see, there is always a little dirt on the face, on the hands, similarly, all our interactions through the day leaves some residue in our mind which needs to be removed,” he said.