Akinrodoye Samuel jumped into the water, started his dare-devil adventure and swum the 11.8 km stretch of the Third Mainland Bridge in his campaign for the need to raise mental health awareness with the theme 'Swim Against Suicide And Depression' in Lagos, Nigeria, March 30, 2024.
Third Mainland Bridge—Lagos (Epicstorian) – a Nigerian swimmer Akinrodoye Samuel has tried to raise awareness on mental health issues in Nigeria and Africa by swimming nearly 12 km (7.45 miles), the length of the longest bridge in Lagos where many people have reportedly died .
The swimming coach, Samuel explained that he was prompted by the traumatising experience of a friend who nearly killed himself due to mental depression.
A report by UNICEF 2021 indicated that one in six Nigerians aged between 15 and 24 were depressed, had anxiety or related mental health issues.
Medical professionals say the stigma associated with mental health in Nigeria’s culturally conservative society makes it difficult for people to open up, according to Reuters.
Samuel gave his reason for accomplishing this feat.
“We are doing this too so people don’t just think that suicide is the next option,” he said in an interview, soon as he was finished with the swim in the Lagos Lagoon on Saturday.
Akinrodoye Samuel jumped into the water, started his dare-devil adventure and swum the 11.8 km stretch of the Third Mainland Bridge in his campaign for the need to raise mental health awareness with the theme ‘Swim Against Suicide And Depression’ in Lagos, Nigeria, March 30, 2024.
Nigerian man, Akinrodoye Samuel, swims 7.5 Miles of the Lagos Lagoon to raise mental health awareness
