SUICIDE NOT AN OPTION: LAGOS COACH SET TO SWIM ENTIRE LENGTH OF THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE

By Aishat Momoh

The Chief Executive Officer of Ocean28 Swimming Academy, Akinrodoye Dare Samuel popularly known as 'Coach Dreh', has announced an initiative to increase awareness about depression and suicide prevention.

This was made known in a statement seen on Friday.

The initiative according to the press release, is to raise awareness of mental health issues in society.

Akinrodoye, an advocate for mental health awareness, is receiving support from the Lagos State Water Ways Authority (LASWA).

On March 30, 2024, he plans to swim the full length of the Third Mainland Bridge from Oworonshoki to Adeniji Adenle.

The awareness activity was borne out of concern for the rising spates of depression and suicide that have occurred on the third mainland bridge, in which some Nigerians reportedly ended their lives.

Through swimming, Coach Dreh, hopes to raise awareness about the difficulties experienced by people dealing with mental health concerns and to promote candid conversation about mental health.

Speaking about the awareness campaign, Akinrodoye stated that the activity aims to instill hope and resilience in those who may be struggling with their mental health. According to him, his resolve to take on such a physically taxing task is a reflection of his efforts to address the depressing statistics of suicide attempts on the third mainland bridge in the past and also, to raise awareness among the public that mental illness affects no one alone.

“Over the month, we have accumulated data on suicide and depression, and it is alarming. A huge percentage of the successful and failed attempts happened at the Third Mainland Bridge, which is why we chose Third Mainland Bridge as a location for the awareness”, he said.

We invite the community to join Coach Dreh, on March 30th, 2024, as he takes this courageous step toward raising awareness about depression and suicide prevention. Together, let us work towards a future where mental health is prioritized and everyone feels empowered to seek help when needed.