….As NMA sues for National strategy to address mental Health issues
With the rising neglect often suffered by those suffering mental illness,,the Nigerian Medical Association,(NMA) said 4.2 % of Nigerian Population suffer depression,this is even as the country have no mental health policy to address challenges faced by mentally depressed Nigerians.
Speaking on Friday at the commemoration of World Health Day,which has the theme,”Depression:Let’s talk’ Mike Ogirima,the NMA President the medical professional are worried that Nigeria do not have a workable mental policy,adding that a national strategy to address mental health problems in Nigeria by government’s at all levels is needed,with emphasis on prevention.
Ogirima said recent incident in Lagos must draw people’s attention to the fact that there are many other who commit suicide and die unnoticed.
He, however noted that the NMA as part of its corporate responsibility to the mental health community and the society at large,the Nigerian Medical Association will work closely with the National Assembly to pass a comprehensive bill on Medical Health in Nigeria.”
Speaking further on stigmatising and neglect often suffered by mentally ill people,the NMA President decried the institutional and structural practices that tend to promote stigma and hiding of depression.
According to him,”One of the major raod blocks towards a full recovery and integration of people with depression is the tendency to stigmatise depression and those who suffer from it.
Notably,the World Health Organisation,(WHO)in 2014 said over 45% of the World’s population lives where there is about 1 psychiatrist to every 100 000 people,with the ratio of Psychiatrist to other Mental Health Professionals put at 180 to 5,200.
