The Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna has stated its resolve to reduce the spate of suicide in the society by tackling mental health illness that results to suicide.
Addressing a rally held in Kaduna at the weekend, to mark the World Mental Health Day, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Professor Abdulkareem Jika Yusuf, stated that in line with the 2019 theme “Suicide Prevention”, the Hospital is prepared to tackle mentally related suicide.
According to Yusuf, “mental illness is like any other sickness and we don’t have mad people. Discriminatory acts worsen such situations.
“We must all agree to work together to fight drug abuse which is now so pronounced especially in the North West here, young boys and girls are into substance taking, even married women are now doing it.
“About half of our bed spaces are occupied by patients who at one point were taking substance with the resultant effects leading to mental illness,” Prof. Yusuf said.
Speaking on government role in ending mentally related suicide in the country, he noted that “the government over the years paid lip services to mental illness, with just 120 bed spaces, the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital cannot handle all mental cases”.
Yusuf however expressed hope and satisfaction in the Leadership style of President Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that with increased budgetary provisions the hospital can effectively serve its catchment area.
