The increasing instances of mental illness being documented in Nigeria are reportedly linked to inadequate attention from the government, challenging economic conditions within the country, and negative societal perceptions surrounding the issue.
During a press briefing in Umuahia on Wednesday, Dr. Azubuike Aliche, the President of the Nigerian American Institute for Mental Health, highlighted these factors.
Dr. Aliche expressed worry over the stigmatization and mistreatment faced by individuals experiencing various forms of mental health issues in Nigeria. He noted that such negative treatment exacerbates the problem instead of offering solutions.
Citing the lack of proper funding for mental healthcare by governments at all levels, Dr. Aliche lamented the disproportionate focus on physical health in Nigeria’s healthcare interventions, neglecting mental health.
He pointed out the scarcity of approximately 250 psychiatrists catering to a significant portion (between 10 and 20 percent) of the Nigerian populace grappling with mental health challenges. Dr. Aliche highlighted the distressing sight of individuals with mental health issues left unattended on the streets.
“The mental healthcare infrastructure is deficient, with the government showing minimal effort to address it. Political campaigns and actions seldom prioritize mental health issues,” he remarked.
As a licensed clinical social worker in the United States, Dr. Aliche emphasized the Nigerian American Institute for Mental Health’s commitment to transforming the dire state of mental health patients and the sector in general.
He noted the inadequate access to mental health services like medications, therapies, and counseling in Nigeria but assured of the Institute’s collaboration with the neuropsychiatric hospital in Enugu and other relevant institutions to advance mental wellness in the country.
Dr. Aliche outlined plans for the Institute to engage trained individuals in community healthcare services for early identification of mental health concerns and subsequent referrals to psychiatrists for specialized care.
Highlighting that the Nigerian society’s stigma surrounding mental health deter most individuals from seeking voluntary diagnosis, Dr. Aliche mentioned that the Nigerian American Institute for Mental Health, an offshoot of Nigerian Mental Health Practitioners, USA, aims to address this barrier.