Festive Season: Dr Atinga urges families to be sensitive enough to mental health needs of adolescents 

Dr Bae-etelayo Atinga, the Head of Nursing Department of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) has urged Christian families to remain sensitive enough, help identify and address the growing mental health needs of the adolescent. 
 
He emphasised that Christians should understand and accept that faith and professional support did not conflict, asking families not to ignore persistent changes in the mood or behaviour of their adolescents. 
 
Dr Atinga cited a recent incident where a level 400 student of the UENR allegedly committed suicide, saying that the deceasedased reportedly suffered from mental health and ended his life partly due to limited family care and support. 
 
“Physical and emotional health are connected”, Dr Atinga stated, when speaking at a round table discussion on the topic “your mental health”, on the sidelines of the 2026 Global Easter Retreat of the Deeper Life Bible Church. 
 
Hundreds of congregants, comprising youth, children and adults, drawn from the various divisions, districts and locations of the church are attending the five-day Retreat on the theme: “The Glory of Christ Resurrection”. 
 
The retreat offers an opportunity for the congregants to listen to live sermons of Pastor Dr William F Kumuyi, the Founder and General Superintendent of the DCLM from the church headquarters in Nigeria via satellite. 
 
Dr Atinga noted that until families draw the adolescent closer and have ample time to listen to them, it would be difficult for parents and guardians to identify changes in the mood and behaviours of their children and wards that might be linked to mental health. 
 
Professor Emmanuel Amankwaah, a Professional Counselor and a lecturer at the UENR mentioned withdrawal from others, irritability and aggressiveness as some of the identifiable signs of adolescent mental health. 
 
He said constant sadness or fear, loss of interest in normal activities, as well as feeling alone even in a crowd were also other signs. 
 
Prof Amankwaah noted that family tensions and conflicts, parental pressures, grief and disappointments affected the emotional health of the adolescent. 
 
He advised the youth not to be shy, instead open up and find solutions from their parents, church leaders or counselors whenever they experienced emotional troubles. 
 
Sister Augustina Dede, a Youth Leader of the Church and a Tutor at the Fiapre Notre Damme Senior High School said fear for disappointing families and church leaders often manifested in hypocrisy and strong spirituality were common struggles many teenagers went through. 
 
She said most teenagers in the church often manifest that also through trying to appear perfect for them to be appreciated. 
 
Pastor Edmond Ayamga, the Middle-Belt Zonal Youth Coordinator of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), said besides the spiritual development, the church remained dedicated to identifying and tackling the barriers inimical to the holistic growth and development of the youth. 
 
Nonetheless, he advised the youth of the church to remain spiritual, build and deepen their intimacy with God by endeavouring to study their bible and praying without ceaselessly, while remaining studious in their academic path.