By Lizzy Carr
A Consultant Psychiatrist, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi (ATBTH-TH), Dr Fawaz Babandi has advocated integration of mental health services in hospitals to check the spate of domestic violence.
Babandi stated this in an interview in Bauchi on Tuesday.
He attributed the spate of alleged killings among family members in the state to subtle mental health issues.
The psychiatrist said that such individuals had a presence of mental illness that triggered violent attacks on family members and friends.
He listed the symptoms to include poor sleeping habits, body heat, loss of interest in interaction and prolonged headache, adding that the symptoms if not attended could manifest in violent attacks.
“We want the government to prioritise mental health by integrating it into all levels of health care.
“Mental health has been neglected for long which affects the violence we are witnessing currently in the society.
“Primary healthcare level is closest to the people but there are no mental health services there, health workers themselves are not trained to identify and treat mental health issues which is a major challenge,” he said.
He said the psychiatric department offered treatment to patients with depression, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and substance abuse.
Babandi stressed the need for sensitisation activities to create awareness towards promoting mental wellbeing.
“Such individual should seek help because signs are there but it will only be realise when the person committed an offense then they will recall some abnormal behaviors he exhibited.”
He also identified stigma as one of causes of mental health issues, adding that, “mental health is everyone business because it might affect anyone at any time.”
