Posted on: Fri 09-10-2020

A mental health physician and advocate, Dr Maymunah Kadiri, has urged Nigerians to stop seeing mental health problems as spiritual attacks. Kadiri, in an interview with our correspondent, said there was the need to raise awareness on mental health to change the narrative about mental health problems in Nigeria.

She said, “Mental health problem is not a spiritual attack, there is science behind why people have mental illnesses. The neurotransmitters are being affected and sometimes it is not in the control of people. Mental illness is real, it is complex but they are beatable, treatable and manageable.”

Speaking on the 2020 World Mental Health Day theme, ‘Mental Health for All-Greater Investment, Greater Access,’ the psychiatrist said mental health care should be made available and accessible for all Nigerians.

“Achieving Universal Health Coverage on mental health is possible and achievable. COVID-19 came and took us all unaware, declared a global pandemic and we could see how the rich and the mighty couldn’t survive it. When it comes to mental health, we don’t have to reach that breaking point before we have greater investment and access.

“The National Assembly should expedite the passage of the mental health bill; when it becomes an Act, a lot can be done. Our health care system is very fragile and mental health has really been relegated to the background for years,” Kadiri said.

The mental health advocate also lamented the dearth of psychiatrists in the country, adding that many of the experts had left the country for greener pastures.

Source: Punch

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