Mental Health: Hospital raises public awareness on stigma
By Mohammed Nur
Stigmatisation
Kano, April 11, 2018 (NAN) Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kware, Sokoto State, has called for increased public awareness on mental health in order to avoid stigmatisation and discrimination.
Dr Auwal Salihu, a Consultant at Department of Psychiatry, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, made the call while flagging off the Northwest awareness campaign on mental health in Kano on Wednesday.
He said that the campaign was sponsored by the neuro-psychiatric hospital Kware to enlighten the public on mental health and stigmatisation.
He said that Kano, Katsina and Sokoto states had been selected for the first phase of the project.
According to him, the programme will focus on awareness creation and sensitisation of the public, particularly at the ward level, about mental health and the need to give it as much importance as the physical health.
“This project will go a long way to increase our level of outreach and also see that we make people more aware about their mental health.
“In most areas, people with this ailment are often mistreated by the public, their family members and their care takers, doctors and nurses are not left.
“Public education on mental health will greatly help to reduce the misconceptions often associated with it,” he said.
According to him, many depressed people in Nigeria are not seeking medical help due to misunderstanding, poor education and stigma.
He advised those with symptoms of depression and other mental health disorders to visit hospitals for proper medical care.
According to him, health definition by the World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasises mental health along with physical and social well being.
“Mental illnesses and substance abuse affect mental health.
“There are over 300 diagnosable mental illnesses, some mild, some moderate and others severe.
“Majority are the mild and the moderate, which constitute about 80 per cent, while the severe ones are the remaining 20 per cent.
“The signs and symptoms of the severe ones include hearing things other people don’t, seeing things other people don’t.
“Having abnormal believe like some people are persecuting the person with any evidence, having special abilities and identities without any evidence, aggression, restlessness, poor sleep, talking alone etc,’’ he added.
Earlier, Dr Muktar Gadanya, a Consultant at the Department of Community Health, said that everybody is vulnerable to mental illness.
He said that one out of five individuals suffer from mental illness; males, females, young and old, all societies, all cultures have mental illnesses.
“Causes of mental illnesses are multiple which include genetic, environmental, trauma, infections, drugs, parenting style and stress.
“Overall mental illnesses are viewed as brain disorders due to scientific evidences confirming that,’’ he said. (NAN)
MNT/FF/MST
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Muhammad Suleiman Tola