Akinrodoye Samuel jumps into the water, to start his ambitious endeavor to swim the 11.8 km stretch of the Third Mainland Bridge, advocating for the theme 'Swim Against Suicide And Depression' in Lagos, Nigeria, March 30, 2024. REUTERS/Marvellous Durowaiye
LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigerian swimmer Akinrodoye Samuel has tried to raise awareness on mental health in Africa's most populous nation, swimming nearly 12 km (7.45 miles), the length of the longest bridge in Lagos where many people have jumped to their deaths.
Samuel, a swimming coach, said he was moved by the death of a friend to speak up on how depression can ruin lives.
A 2021 UNICEF report showed one in six Nigerians aged
between 15 and 24 were depressed, anxious or had other 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.
"We are doing this too so people don't just think that
suicide is the next option," Samuel told Reuters after finishing the swim in the Lagos Lagoon on Saturday.
(Reporting by Seun Sanni, writing by Ope Adetayo, editing by Nick Macfie)
