The United States Institute of Peace (USIP), on Tuesday in Abuja emphasised the vital role of mental healthcare in fostering resilient and peaceful societies.
The Country Director, of USIP, Dr Chris Kwaja, made this assertion at the National Dialogue on Integrating Mental Health and Psycho-social Support into Peace Building, organised by the African Centre of USIP in partnership with the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Kaduna (FNPH).
Kwaja said addressing psychological and social needs was essential for building sustainable peace, particularly in communities affected by insurgency.
He stressed that mental health was not solely an individual concern but a community issue impacting overall stability and peace.
“Effective mental healthcare and psycho-social support are necessary for promoting social cohesion, non-violent conflict resolution, and peace building.”
The Medical Director of FNPH, Dr Aishatu Armiya’u, highlighted Nigeria’s prolonged struggles with violence, conflicts, and humanitarian crises.
She urged the government to prioritise citizens’ emotional and psychological well-being to ensure resilience, social cohesion, and sustainable peace.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, pledged support for integrating mental health into peacebuilding, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s renewed hope agenda.
The Chairman of the Committee on Specialty Healthcare, House of Representatives, Mr Alex Egbona, advocated for declaring a state of emergency on mental health, citing its epidemic proportions in Nigeria.
Egbona, represented by the Clerk of the committee, Mr Tordue Nyitse, urged stakeholders to address mental health issues and close policy gaps in the Mental Health Act.
NAN
