One in four adults in Nigeria will experience mental health difficulties in his life time, said Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist at the Pinnacle Medical Services, Dr. Maymunah Kadiri.
Speaking with our correspondent on this year’s World Mental Health Day to be commemorated on Saturday, 10th of October, themed: ‘Dignity in mental health’, Dr Kadiri said, stigma and discrimination have the potential to violate mental health dignity through their effects on individuals as well as on society as a whole.
According to her, stigma and discrimination are significant barriers to obtaining good mental health care and to accessing the everyday social activities that keep each of us mentally well.
“Stigma interferes with people’s full participation in society and deprives them of their dignity. To make dignity in mental health a reality requires every member of society to work together and make mental health visible, not something to be ashamed of.”
Continuing, she said, “There is no health without mental health but there is no single, universally recognised symbol to represent mental health. Every human interaction holds the potential to be a dignity encounter, an interaction in which dignity comes to fore and may be positive or negative.” The expert identified threats to dignity in mental health care as stigma and discrimination, acute inpatient care and human rights violations.
Adding, she said, “effectively supporting people experiencing mental health problems is on target to become one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Stigmatising and discriminatory treatment can be particularly distressing when a person is experiencing a health crisis.
“We all have mental health and by failing to treat people with mental health problems with dignity, we make it more difficult to ensure that everyone takes steps to safeguard their wellbeing and to seek help. This can lead to self-stigma, low confidence, low self-esteem, withdrawal and social isolation and sometimes suicide.”
World Mental Health Day is observed on 10th October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.
By: Lara Adejoro
Daily Times News
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