Oluwanuga, who is also Head of Psychiatric Unit, stated this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, inc

She said the introduction of social media had both positive and negative impact on young people, noting that it had taken the place of family interaction and communal living.

She said consistent use of the internet had caused isolation among individuals; and which has affected socialisation and interaction with those they should be communicating with, leading to depression and lack of resilience to handle stress.

“In offices workers are on the internet and social media interacting with people they sometimes do not see or know, joining invisible communities and various chat rooms on their phones.”

“Such individuals are often exposed to right or wrong ideas likely to have negative impact on their mental health as a result of taking hard drugs.”

This further alters their brain and ability to make right decisions resulting to depression and suicide.

“Due to lack of resilience to handle challenges, some young people also obtain different chemicals such as snipers, to end their lives,’’ she said.

Oluwanuga stressed that when young people were faced with challenges and stress, with no opportunity to speak to anyone, they might become frustrated, emotionally stressed and might consider suicide.

She also noted that the social media was making young people lose their confidence, self-esteem and identity.

“Social media has also had negative impact on some people where they put fake pictures on Instagram and Facebook with fake identities and location.”

Oluwanuga acknowledged the need for young people to speak up and learn to communicate with friends and family, rather than engage in messaging and chatting.

Oluwanuga urged parents to create more time and take up their responsibilities in training and nurturing; and interact more with their children and wards.

She called on organisations, schools and offices to hire counselors where students and members of staff could speak confidentially to, about issues that bothered them.

She said religious leaders and professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists had a role to play in mentoring and engaging young people to become resilient in handling pressures and stress.

The consultant also called on government to establish communal centres and recreational parks to encourage interaction among citizens.