Mrs Veronica Ezeh, the Chief Executive Officer of Adicare Rehabilitation Home, an NGO, has called for intensified sensitisation of Nigerians on mental health to avoid unnecessary stigmatisation.
Ezeh, also a Psychiatric Nurse, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday that the call was necessary in face of the raising stigmatisation and isolation against persons with mental illness in the country.
She said there was a need for more education campaigns about mental so that people would have the right information about mental health, saying there were a lot of misconceptions about mental health in society.
According to her, some people believed that mental health is transmissible and as a result, they have nothing in common with anyone who had the condition.
She said others believed that anyone who had mental health illness would never behave or function well again, and should not be reunited with society.
Ezeh said the misconception about mental health was the major contributor to the high level of stigmatisation, saying that they could be corrected through massive public sensitisation and education campaigns.
The mental health advocate emphasised that mental health illness like every other sickness was curable.
Ezeh said that one out of every 10 persons must have one form of mental illness over the course of his/her lifetime.
“Both the government and individuals 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 need to be done.
“There is need for massive public sensitisation and education campaigns on mental health.
“Government authorities, policy-makers, individuals and families need to be provided with the right information about mental health,” Ezeh 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 of mental health.
According to her, if the medications and drugs are affordable, a lot of patients will have access to them.
“A patient can be on medication and going about his normal business activities.
“A lot of people that are being managed of mental illness 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 start early enough when the situation is not complicated and the society understands that mental health condition doesn’t affect one’s productivity.”
According to her, this is where 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 challenges, 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)
