Foundation seeks policy framework to promote mental health

 

The Asido Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organsiation (NGO), has called on the Federal Government to create a policy framework to protect and promote stable mental health for Nigerians.

The Regional Coordinator of Lagos Asido Foundation, Dr Samuel Aladejare, made the call at a sensitisation programme organised by the foundation in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day (WMHD) in Lagos.

The WMHD is celebrated annually on October 10 to raise awareness about mental health around the world and to mobilise efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues.

The 2023 WMHD has as the theme: “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right”.

Aladejare, also Psychiatrist, said that stable mental health of the citizens was necessary to enhance their productive and contributions to economic growth and development of the country.

He said that citizens would not be very productive or function optimally if they were not in the state of good mental health.

He said that mental health had a higher percentage of global burdens than other non- communicable diseases like cancer, malaria and cardiovascular diseases.

According to him, the global burden of the disease is 28 per cent compared to 14 per cent global burden of cancer or malaria disease.

“Mental health has 28 per cent in terms of global burden of disease while disease like cancer has 14 per cent.

“What this means is that mental health is more common and affects greater number of the population.

“And being so common, it requires more attention because studies have shown that one in every four individuals is likely to have one form of mental health condition or the other in his lifetime.

“So, it is imperative that the government pay more attention to the disease by creating policy frameworks that will promote mental health of the citizens.

“The budget allocation to mental health needs to be increased to create room for improved services.

“Unfortunately, in Nigeria other non-communicable diseases get more attention than mental health,” he said.

Aladejare emphasised the need for integration of mental health services into the primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions for easier accessibility.

The Director for Youths Mental Health, Asido Foundation, Mohammed Ahmed, identified economic and physical stressors among other stressors of life as major factors affecting the mental health of Nigerians.

Ahmed said that people were stressed out with economic challenges ranging from high cost of living, inflation, insecurity and frustrations among others.

“Obviously, the economic challenges and stressors of life are actually affecting the mental health of the citizens.

“But resorting to drug abuse, peer group influence or considering suicide is never an option.

“Youths particularly, need to slow down; youths are in a rush to succeed in life and because they are in a rush; it puts more pressure on them towards what they want in life.

“Youths should start learning how to spend their time constructively and be conscious of the circle in which they found themselves.

“It is their responsibility to decide what their future outcome will be,” Ahmed said.

He said the cost of managing mental health was expensive especially when it became severe.

He advised that youths should endeavour to speak out and seek for help/interventions early whenever they noticed symptoms of mental health.

Members of the foundation and other participants at the programme were seen displaying placards with different descriptions that sensitised people on mental health.

Maryam Gambo, the Secretary of the Foundation, called for an end to mental health stigma in the country.

Gambo said the predicament of people suffering from mental health-related issues was being compounded as a result of stigmatisation, discrimination, denial and lack of understanding.

She also urged the people managing mental health condition to stop self-stigmatisation.

She said, “Self-perceived stigmatisation refers to the negative attitudes, including internalised shame that people with mental illness have about their own condition.

“Stigma not only directly affects individuals with mental illness but also loved ones who support them.”