The global community is commemorating today as the World Mental Health Day (WMHD). The day is set aside annually by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) to draw the attention of governments and healthcare givers to the need to seriously address the challenges faced by the mentally ill populace and the dangers they pose to the communities they live in. The theme of this year’s commemoration is: “Make Mental Health for all Becomes a Global Priority”.
Statistics by the WHO reveal that three are over 300m people afflicted by all manner of mental disorders. Specifically, the world body reveals that one out of every six Africans suffers from mental ailment. This is, no doubt, a sad commentary on the so-called Dark Continent where many Africans who are battling with mental illness often do not get the required attention and treatment. Globally, about 8m people kill themselves as a result of mental health disorder annually.
A recent survey has revealed that Nigeria is home to about 60m mentally challenged people. The persistent economic hardship has not helped matters, with many more being pushed into the pack on regular basis. Besides endemic corruption which is an invidious crime that impoverishes the masses, another major factor responsible for this state of affairs is bad governance which has been the hallmark of successive administrations. Then, there is self-induced lunacy especially among the youths who indulge in reckless use of all manner of hard drugs.
It is common knowledge that most of the victims of mental ailment do not have access to modern therapy. Many patients are subjected to undignified treatment, such as being chained to trees or beds, locked in a cage, left without food for hours, deprived of family support and adequate personal hygiene.
Mental health patients deserve respect and compassion as they cope with their disease, as it is expected of those who suffer from any other disease. Some countries on the continent have implemented a wide range of measures to restore the dignity of patients and improve awareness and access to mental health services at all levels of the health care system. This includes revision of their mental health legislations in order to protect the rights and dignity of persons affected by the condition.
However, the promotion of good mental health and understanding of its challenges, together with early detection, treatment and dignity of the patients are still major concerns in the country. Most towns and cities have their own fair share of insane people living among sane members of the public. During the colonial era, asylums for lunatics were established in different parts of the country to cater for all categories of mentally challenged persons.
Today, many of such institutions have vanished. There seems to be no clear-cut demarcation between psychiatric wards and asylums in hospitals. We, however, know that wards are meant for patients whose cases may be within redemption, while asylums are used to quarantine those who have slipped into irreversible insanity.
Mentally challenged persons deserve pity and support. Government at all levels can help. It has the responsibility of ensuring the wellbeing of all citizens, lunatics not excluded. Some mental disorders are inherited, but insanity could also be triggered off by socio-economic challenges. These days, some Nigerians are seen talking to nobody in particular, at the top of their voices, while walking along the streets. Some pedestrians, lost in thought, cross roads without minding vehicular movements. Some drive dangerously. Any of these is a manifestation of mental imbalance partly caused by the prevailing circumstances in the country.
Urgent steps must be taken to slow down the march by the suffering masses into the psychiatric fold. We also call on the various governments to consider bringing back lunatic asylums as a means of curbing the public nuisance that lunatics constitute. Such institutions should be well-staffed and funded. Unfortunately, the picture being painted about the dearth of psychiatric personnel is very disturbing – a ratio of one doctor to one million Nigerians! Aside from mental disorder fueled by the current economic woes, there is also the need for public enlightenment campaigns that would discourage our youths from embracing such habits that lead to mental imbalance and consequently suicide in most cases.
Nigerians should also be sensitised to the need to pay attention to their mental health especially the brains which are as vital to the body as organs like the heart, kidneys, liver and lung.
However, the good news is that the House of Representatives has given gave marching orders to the Committees on Health Institutions and Healthcare Services to interface with the Ministry of Health towards enhancing mental health facilities around the country and carry out further sensitisation of Nigerians on the menace.
