Karu residents seek support for persons with psychosocial disabilities

Community leaders, health professionals and disability rights advocates have called for increased support and an end to stigma against persons living with psychosocial disabilities, warning that discrimination remains a major barrier to treatment, education, employment and social inclusion. They made the call during a community dialogue held at the palace of the Sakaruyi of Karu, […]

Community leaders, health professionals and disability rights advocates have called for increased support and an end to stigma against persons living with psychosocial disabilities, warning that discrimination remains a major barrier to treatment, education, employment and social inclusion.

They made the call during a community dialogue held at the palace of the Sakaruyi of Karu, where traditional rulers, healthcare workers, security agencies, civil society groups, religious leaders and persons with psychosocial disabilities discussed ways to improve community acceptance and access to mental healthcare.

Participants noted that while Nigeria’s Mental Health Act provides legal protection for persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, implementation has remained weak, leaving many vulnerable to discrimination, neglect and abuse.

They also expressed concern over the absence of reliable national data on psychosocial disabilities, saying the gap has made it difficult to adequately plan mental health services and allocate resources.

Speaking during the dialogue, the Executive Director of the Yamban-Kabati African Foundation, Danjuma Adda, described mental health as both a public health and human rights issue, stressing the need for communities to embrace inclusion rather than discrimination.

Many participants who shared their lived experiences said societal stigma often discourages people from seeking treatment, while families affected by psychosocial disabilities frequently struggle to access affordable healthcare and community support.

Women and girls living with psychosocial disabilities were identified as particularly vulnerable because they often experience multiple forms of discrimination linked to both disability and gender.

Traditional rulers and community members pledged to promote greater awareness about mental health and encourage acceptance of persons living with psychosocial disabilities within their communities.

The dialogue also highlighted the importance of involving persons with psychosocial disabilities in decisions affecting their lives, in line with the disability rights principle of “Nothing about us without us.”

Stakeholders at the dialogue urged governments at all levels to strengthen implementation of the Mental Health Act by improving access to community-based mental healthcare, increasing public awareness and investing in reliable data collection to support evidence-based policies.