The Chief Executive Officer of Adicare Rehabilitation Home, an NGO, Mrs Veronica Ezeh has called for serious sensitisation of Nigerians on mental health to avoid unnecessary stigmatisation.
Ezeh, also a Psychiatric Nurse at the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital Yaba, made the call while speaking on Friday in Lagos.
She said that the sensitisation was necessary in the face of stigmatisation and isolation against persons with mental illness.
She said there was a need for more education campaigns and sensitisation about it so that people would have the right information, saying there were many misconceptions about the disease in society.
According to her, some people still believe that mental health is transmissible and as a result, they have nothing in common with anyone with the condition.
She said others believed that anyone who had mental health illness would never behave or function normal again, and as a result, should not be reunited into society.
Ezeh said that the misconceptions about the health conditions were the major contributing factor to its high level of stigmatisation, saying that could be corrected through massive public sensitisation and education campaigns.
She explained that the health illness like every other sickness was curable.
The psychiatric nurse said that one out of every 10 persons must have one form of the illness throughout his/her lifetime.
“Both the government and individual neglect people with mental health challenges; which is why they are found roaming around the streets.
“There has been ongoing sensitisation by some Groups and Non-governmental Organisations, but more still needs to be done.
“There is need for massive public sensitisation and education campaigns on mental health.
“The government authorities, policy makers, individuals and families need to be provided with the right information about mental health,” she said.
Ezeh decried the limited access to quality and affordable mental health care, calling on the government at all levels to subsidise medications and drugs for mental health.
According to her, if the medications and drugs are affordable, a lot of patients will have access to them, saying that a patient can be on medication and be doing well with his business activities.
“A lot of people that are being managed of mental health conditions are financially doing well; which means they still go about their normal businesses.
“A banker who has mental illness must not be sacked because of the condition. The person can be receiving the treatment while he continues with the bank work – you can after seeing a psychiatric doctor, resume at your workplace for the day.
“That is why early intervention and sensitisation are key.
“If the medication can be started early enough when the situation is not complicated and the society made to understands that mental health condition doesn’t affect one’s productivity.
“This is where the government needs to fully come in; because anything that the government gets involved in is a done deal.
“The government can make a law against all forms of stigmatisation, neglect, isolation and deprivation against persons with mental health challenge. And anyone who failed to abide by the law will be punished.
“In that case, if a person develops mental health challenge, after treatment, such person can resume work back at the previous place of employment,” she said.
She, therefore, urged the government to intensify efforts toward the establishment of more rehabilitation homes across the country, while supporting and partnering with the existing ones.
NAN
