NAN-H-48
Illness
Abuja, May 17, 2017 (NAN) Bells Echo Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called on the Federal Government to create a firm and working health policy that would cater for people with mental illness in Nigeria.
Mr Abiodun Bello, President of the organisation spoke with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the occasion of the mental health week on Wednesday in Abuja.
Bello said that a working mental illness policy would help to support the victims financially and reduce the rate of victims being neglected in the society.
According to him, the Federal Government should create a firm and working health policy that will cater for people living with mental illness.
“We all need to get together as a society, especially with a lack of mental health policy by the government, and reach out to our fellow citizens to promote mental health and well-being.
“”As an NGO that is passionate about the plights of people with mental and physical challenges, we will certainly do our bit,” he said.
Bello urged victims to speak out about their illnesses to reduce the drive to self-harm and committing suicide due to the feeling of hopelessness and despair they experienced.
He said that people having mental health challenges were often neglected and stigmatized in the society.
“There is a general misconception about the difference between mental health and mental illness.
“Mental health is the state of one’s well-being, basically the same as physical health.
““Whereas, mental illness is an illness that affect the way people feel, think, behave or interact with others,” Bello explained.(NAN)
TY/ORO/AFA
Edited by Razak Owolabi/Felix Ajide