30% Nigerians suffer mental illness – Psychiatrist
About 30 percent of the country’s population are suffering from mental illness, a consultant psychiatrist, Dr Aremu Saad, has said. He said there was need for the National Assembly to pass the Mental Health Bill to reduce the problem. He stated this during a mental health awareness campaign and interactive session organised in Gusau, Zamfara […]
About 30 percent of the country’s population are suffering from mental illness, a consultant psychiatrist, Dr Aremu Saad, has said.
He said there was need for the National Assembly to pass the Mental Health Bill to reduce the problem.
He stated this during a mental health awareness campaign and interactive session organised in Gusau, Zamfara State capital by the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kware, Sokoto State.
Aremu said the Mental Health Bill is paramount to reducing the high rate of mental disorders estimated to be between 20-30 percent in Nigeria.
The consultant psychiatrist said the Mental Health Bill if passed into law will protect the right of persons with mental disorders, ensure equal access to treatment and cure. Others include discouraging stigma and discrimination and setting standards for psychiatric practice in Nigeria.
Aremu lamented that the attention given to mental health disorders in Nigeria was inadequate.
“The level of awareness of the Nigerian public on mental health issues is also understandably poor, and with lots of misconception and myths,” he said.
He said the signs of mental health disorders, are, hearing things other people don’t, seeing things others don’t, aggression, depression, restlessness, poor sleep and talking alone,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Mannir Bature Tsafe of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Gusau, said efforts would be geared towards public enlightenment and sensitization to equip the people about mental illness.
“We need to always show compassion to those with mental disorders to reduce the effects on them”, he said.
Bature warned against drug abuse particularly among the youth.