The federal government has been called upon to pass the mental health act into law to enable citizens have better access to mental healthcare, and in turn address insecurity and kidnappings across the country.
The call was made weekend, during a one day icare symposium on mental health and drug abuse awareness organised by LAN health, a health based non governmental organisation at the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) orientation camp Kubwa, Abuja.
Its Founder Dr. Nkechi Mbaezue, stressed that mental health and drug abuse is currently an epidemic in Nigeria, noting that due to conflicts 1 in 5 persons will have mental illness.
She noted that most substance use begins with youths from the ages of 13-14 before advancing to Schizophrenia with its effect manifesting around age 20 upwards.
“We brought this advocacy to NYSC because they are the youth who we really need to reach out to. We will go down to secondary schools because most substance use start from the ages of 13-14 but its effect start manifesting around 20 that is Schizophrenia so we are ensuring that they get adequate awareness
“People in conflict ridden areas like Nigeria 1 in 5 will have mental illness
There is a lot of government push for IDP’s and people in conflict areas in terms of physical health but their mental health is very critical,” she stressed.
“Government can provide resources so people can step in to handle this. If the bill is passed into law it will increase funding and resources for mental health, it will improve on the lives of Nigerians because right now we dont have personnel , no enough psychiatrist/hospitals, coucillors, trained personnel to handle the epidemic,” she said.
Co-Founder of LAN health Angela Brown noted that lots of people have serious problems but are silent to avoid being stigmatsed.
Brown called on government to recognise that there is an epidemic with mental health, adding that government can help address stigma by signing the mental health bill to law.
“The last lunatic law was passsed in 1915 and they need to understand that they should remove the stigma and pay attention to mental health.
“The statistics speak for itself even when a lot of cases are not reported. All the kidnappers you see are depressed. For you to do evil you must be unhappy with something in life so its everywhere.
“Youths are graduating from school no jobs they start going into a life of crime, desperation, drug abuse, suicide and it goes on and on, its an epidemic that leads to another epidemic and its high,” she said.
Responding, the Camp Director Oladele Jacob said drug abuse is prevalent amongst youth, but urged them against committing suicide.
“Suicide is a defeatist option and should not be mentioned. If you notice you are depressed talk to family or friends that can make you happy, do things to make you happy, free your minds,” he urged.
“We should not worry about life because we will not come out of it alive . Never attempt suicide because the richest place is in the grave because many people have died because of little challenge the commit auicide and deatiny is wasted,” he added.
One of the Corp Members Abeleje Bukola, an accounting graduate from Ekiti state said she was not aware that stress could lead to mental health problems and drug abuse,saying she would be more careful and also advise others when she see symptoms of depressíon in anyone.
