Nigeria's Mental Health Crisis: Fewer than 200 Psychiatrists for 200 Million People

Date: 2024-11-29

The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) has revealed that the country's mental health needs are being attended to by fewer than 200 psychiatrists, despite a population of over 200 million people, as reported by Leadership.

The President of APN, Professor Taiwo Obindo, made this disclosure at the 55th Annual General Conference and Scientific Meeting of the association, which was held in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The conference, themed "Prioritizing Mental Health Needs of Nigeria in a Depressed Economy: An Urgent Call For Integrated, Comprehensive And Sustainable Interventions," highlighted the dire state of mental health care in Nigeria. Professor Obindo attributed the shortage of mental health professionals to the "japa syndrome," which has led to a significant depletion of the mental health workforce in the country.

Furthermore, Professor Obindo noted that mental health workers in Nigeria are overworked and underpaid, and that the situation must be addressed urgently. He also lamented that mental health has not received the necessary attention from the government, citing the example of Canada, which has a functional Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.

“Mental health in Nigeria is still a programme under the Department of Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health. One other area needing attention is the budgetary allocation to health, and by extension, the mental health, which is less than six percent.

“This falls short of the Abuja Declaration of 2001, where health allocation was to be pegged at a minimum of 15 percent of every country's annual budget,” he said.

He called for the implementation of the Mental Health Act of 2021, which replaced the Lunacy Act of 1958.

In his lecture, Prof. Owoidoho Udofia, of the University of Calabar, said: “Study showed 12 percent of Nigerians have mental and behavioural disorder”.

“Mental illness makes up less than 30 percent of the burden in teaching hospitals in Nigeria. The illness is not only restricted to schizophrenia and psychosis. Substance use is high and there is need to improve diagnosis.

“There is also need to improve on the rates, as there is poor identification and research,” he said.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ilesha-Gwanara     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     IPSAS     Shuaib Jawondo     Balikis Jawondo     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Awwal Jawondo     Abdulmumini Jawondo     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Mufti Of Ilorin     Toyosi Thomas     Air Peace     Arandun     Sayomi     Justina Oha     Aliyu Muhammed     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Binta Abubakar Mora     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Femtech     Adijat Adebiyi     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     HYPPADEC     Ahmad Ali     Ghali Muhammed     Owode Market     Issa Memunat Moyosore     Hijaab     Kabir Shagaya     KWASIEC     Oke-Ode     Lawal Olohungbebe     Code Of Conduct     Alfa Modibo Belgore     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Muhammad Yahya     Council Of The Wise     Rafiu Ajakaye     BECE     Mukhtar Shagaya     GANZY     Okin Malt     Olam Food Ingredients     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Emir Of Yashikira     Muhammadu Gobir     Tunji Olawuyi     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     Igbaja     Yomi Adeboye     Mahe Abdulkadir     Kwara United     Razaq Atunwa     Aliyu Kora Sabi     Emir Of Shonga     Sardauna Of Ilorin     Olayinka Olaogun     Olateju Lukman     Bolaji Nagode     Buhari     Cassava Growers\' Association     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Saliu Oluwole     Ilorin Water Reticulation     AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     IESA     YAKOOYO     Isa Aremu     Ilorin Central Mosque     Agboola Abdulraheem     Saudat Abdulbaqi     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Okiki     Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja     NTA Ilorin    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ndama Al-hassan     Adeleke Ogungbe     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Maigida     Olupako     JMK Construction Company Limited     Gbajabiamila     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Okiki     Kamaldeen Ajibade     COVID-19 Palliatives     Issa Manzuma     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     Adesoye     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Abubakar Lah     Rapheal Ashaolu     Ganiyu Taofiq     Village Alive Development Association     Saidu Isa     Sardauna     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Manzuma     Ilota     Otoge     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Aisha Ahman-Pategi     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Abubakar Suleiman     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Christopher Ayeni     Chikanda     Belgore     Bello Abubakar     Ilorin International Airport     Garba Idris Ajia     Moshood Bakare     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Yusuf Abubakar     Harafat E. Mukadam     Aliyu Muhammed     Split Diamond Interchange     Sabo-Oke     Sebastine Obasi     KWAFFA     Smart School     Dankaka     Al-Adaby     Bamidele Aluko     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Olaosebikan     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Alimi     Salihu Yahaya     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Okin Group     Saheed Akinwumi     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     Garment Factory     Jamiu Oyawoye     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Ado Bayero     Awili Pedro     Ijagbo     Inside Kwara     Stephen Fasakin     Voices Of Tomorrow     Idowu Laro     Budo Egba     Ilorin Metro Park     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Ayegbeni     Mohammed Abdulahi     Kisra