Toluwani Eyitayo Adebayo is a Medical Doctor in training at Bowen University, Iwo. She is the second child of a family of seven. She has about two years experience of being a mental health advocate.

Currently, she is an ambassador of YOUTHLEAD TEAM, 2019 kectil colleague, 2019 AFRICAVE fellow, 2019 Yali Rlc West Africa fellow, an open source leader of the common purpose global leadership UK and a member of MHIN (Mental Health Innovative Network.)

Toluwani loves volunteering, reading, travelling and networking with great minds.

She shares her ‘Ruby Girl’ story in this interview.

 

MEET ME

TOLUWANI EYITAYO ADEBAYO is a Medical Doctor in training at Bowen University, Iwo. I am the second child of a family of seven. I have about two years experience of being a mental health advocate.

Currently, I am an ambassador of YOUTHLEAD TEAM, 2019 kectil colleague,2019 AFRICAVE fellow, 2019 Yali Rlc West Africa fellow, an open source leader of the common purpose global leadership UK and a member of MHIN(Mental Health Innovative Network.)

Toluwani is a student volunteer who believes in changing the world’s perspective about mental health.

 

HOBBIES

I enjoy volunteering, reading, travelling and networking with great minds.

INSPIRATION

God has been my greatest source of inspiration, my parents and great mentors like Ms Florence Olumodimu, Ms Tejiri Emuveyan, Dr. P.O peters, Dr Adewale Adeluyi have been inspiring me greatly and encouraging me to become a better version of myself

WHY I CHOSE TO SPECIALIZE IN MENTAL HEALTH

There has been an increase in the incidence of mental health condition, in Nigeria and the world at large and people with mental health conditions are commonly stigmatized.

As a result of this, I have developed a passion to change the view of mental healthcare in Nigeria in particular and in Africa as a whole. I am trying to change the perspective of people by using measurable actions in the aspects of sensitizing and caring for mental health patients.

 

ON GIVING UP

Well…. There have been times I felt like giving up on school,career and building myself but during those darkest moments, I pray to God and I remember the reason why I chose this path. This has helped me to come out stronger and better. Also, I continuously remind myself to never despise days of humble beginnings.

 

BEST QUOTE

“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.”
— Dolly Parton

 

WHAT I WILL LIKE TO CHANGE ABOUT MYSELF

Currently, I have been working on procrastination. Having discussed I procrastinate a lot, I have been actively doing things as they pop up as a corrective measure.

 

WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT

The fear of failure has been one of the things that keeps up.
Fear of disappointing my parents and my self as well.

 

IF GIVEN THE CHANCE TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA FOR A DAY

I will focus more on health sector of the nation reason being I actively relate with Sustainable Development Goal 3 which is to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.

1.This will reduce the maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births.

2. This will help in ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.

 

ON DEPRESSION AND HOW TO OVERCOME IT…

Depression comes in different colours as it looks different on everyone. So Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

¶Feeling sad

¶Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed

¶Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting

¶Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

¶Loss of energy or increased fatigue

¶Increase in purposeless physical activity

¶Feeling worthless or guilty

¶Difficulty in thinking, concentrating or making decisions

And the common one
¶ Thoughts of death or suicide

Coping with depression:

∆Reach out and stay connected
Reaching out might seem impossible but to snap out of depression, one must do it

Tips

¶ Look for *support* from people who make you feel safe and cared for
Talk to others that matter to you

¶ Try to to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it.

¶ Join a support group for depression

Improve Satisfaction

Satisfaction is a state of being, not a transient mood. Whereas cheerful emotions come and go, satisfaction is an appraisal that reflects the sum total of an experience more than a specific point in the experience.

∆ Plan to Get What You Want
Respond differently. Stop planning to be hurt and hopeless. First of all, delay thoughts of failed expectations. It is a simple refusal to think ahead about inevitable failure. Tell yourself instead that you will “face it when it happens.” If you are going to be disappointed, there will be time later to deal with it.

∆ End Isolation
Although self-care is an important part of recovery, in the short-term, getting back to social contact is highly useful. Relying on others may seem impractical or impossible in your particular situation, but taking small steps toward reliance on others, even if it is simply

∆ Most importantly,
*GET A PROFESSIONAL HELP*
SEE A DOCTOR, IF YOU DON’T FEEL BETTER AFTER TRYING ALL THESE..
You might need a pharmacological approaches.

 

GROWING UP…

Growing up in a Nigeria home was fun as well being stressful. My parents are academicians, so I have seen reading as a necessity to shapen myself. There are days where I would be sad or feel unhappy.

My parents have been my number one cheerleader, they have been supportive from the very start. Days of coming to watch me march during school’s inter house sports to reposting my e-fliers for online webinars. They have been amazing and this helped building my self esteem.I have 4 siblings and I am the second child/daughter, so I have had to take care of my younger siblings. This has helped in shaping me to be more compassionate.

 

MY BRAND IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS

In the next 5 years, the name TOLU ADEBAYO would have made significant impacts in positive social advocacy and in changing people’s perspective about mental health.

 

WORDS OF ADVICE TO GIRLS FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME

They should find what they are passionate about and start early.

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