A British medical doctor and influencer on X handle @ourfavonlinedoc slammed another social media user Fowobi of Lagos, who posted the picture of a lady with different blade/knives slashes on her arm, emphasizing that it’s a sign of mental struggle.
FowobiofLagos in his post had opined that the people with such marks on their hands should be given a wide berth, as they are liable to mental disability and not fit for relationship purposes. He hinted that he had have an encounter with one and warned the male populace to desist from making same mistake as him.
According to the @FowobiofLagos: “If you meet any girl with these kinda marks on her body, my broda just run for your dear life, I’ve met one and I know what I’m saying.”
However, the doctor argued that the people who suffer from such illness should be treated with love compassion and not criticism. He advised that words that would further step them back into an abyss should be avoided, as it can easily be a trigger to self-harming themselves over again.
He pointed out: “From a medical standpoint, those marks on her hands are self-harm marks and suicide attempt marks, for those who may not know. They are scars that show severe mental health struggles that the person is facing.
“Just like any other medical condition, what the person needs is love, attention, support, counselling and medication. When you see those marks on anyone’s arms, it’s a sign of previous self-harm which suggests the person has struggled, or struggles, with mental disorder (which could be depression, anxiety, psychosis or any other severe mental illness).
“We should not demonize them. We should not stigmatize them. And we definitely should not make comments that further dehumanize them. Mental illness is just an illness like people also have physical illness. They only need support, understanding and care.” He stressed
Regarding the exposure of the image used by Fowobi of Lagos, the doctor explained that it could traumatized the person further if she came across it online and chided the user for its usage.
“You should have blurred this girl’s face. She really doesn’t deserve the attacks and negative attention that this post of yours will bring her way.
“You don’t know where this lady may be now. She may be in a far better place- or not. However this kind of post, if she sees it, may traumatize her and further damage her mentally- leading her to another dark place where she may self-harm. You probably shouldn’t have posted this. And you definitely shouldn’t have posted her face.
“This kind of posts can further worsen the negative stereotype against victims of mental illness and open them up to humiliation and mockery in this digital space. You may not have intended it to be so, but please kindly take this as a learning moment for the future.” He warned
The doctor further stated that: “This is not just for you. This is for all of us. People with mental illness are human beings like you and me. They deserve respect, care, support and understanding as they battle the illness- just like any other person facing a tough time or a physical illness. I hope we have all learnt something. Thank you.”
Some users shared their experiences under the post, while some feel such people should be treated with kid gloves, others opined that they should be avoided at all cost.
@espeezeal: “Could have blurred but he’s speaking the truth, those people are a ticking time bomb that could ruin anyone’s life We are too sensitive to call things exactly what they are. Men need to be careful about damaged women, don’t suffer for her accumulated trauma you never created”
@mCharliewonder: “Having a conversation with a lady in my apartment, she suddenly got angry and went into my kitchen, picked up a knife to cut herself. I was almost scared to death. I succeeded in talking her into dropping the knife and that was the last time she ever was 100m around me till date”
@mimibenson__: “I work in physc and I concur to this. These are self-cutting marks as the patient don’t feel in control. It’s pretty common among pple who were sexually abused/ raped by a direct family. She needs help not to be trashed online by online trolls.”
@michealmensah54: “Omor run for your life. These kind of people are triggered by little meaningless things and the result is always brutal might even end ur life. Ya he should hv blurred the face. But once again run ooo”
@max_well_33: “This set of people deserves everything this posts get abeg I’m a testimony and i will always not like them Stop pampering rubbish.”
Hayor_S: “EUPD (Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder) makes them do all sorts. When one is seen doing this to themselves, there’s a need to call for help cos this act is another form of mental illness. Get a psychotherapist.”
@Chimaizuobi: “If you meet someone like this, be kind to them but don’t act like the suicidal feelings are valid. When it’s not being fed constantly, it will quietly die off. For instance she tells you that she self-harmed, give a casual response and move on to the next gist. You’re there to help her heal not dwell in her sadness.”
@PeterROCK_: “Nysc year, this girl She cut herself and send me a picture after an argument saying. Look at what you’ve made me do. yes run.”