Mental Health: Psychiatrist identifies stigma as major problem

Mental Health: Psychiatrist identifies stigma as major problem
By Blessing Odega
Psychiatry
Jos, Oct. 3, 2018 (NAN) Dr Moses Audu, a Consultant Psychiatrist, says emotional and mental health are often neglected and not accorded the same degree of importance as physical health due to societal stigma.
Audu, who is the Director of Quintessential Health Care, Jos, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos.
He said that the society associates mental health challenges with insanity, hence leading to stigma.
“When someone gets extremely sick, most likely the individual will see a doctor; similarly, seeing a psychiatrist means the patient needs help and advice.
“Unfortunately, in our society, going to a psychiatrist often suggests to family members that the patient is insane or a lunatic,” he said.
According to Audu, it is not in our culture to seek psychiatric help, but this trend needs to be discouraged because if more people start seeking help for their mental health challenges, the practice may become contagious, thus leading to a healthier society.
“The act of keeping mental health a secret is highly detrimental as many lives have been destroyed because some families refuse to seek help due to assumed stigma.
“The public needs to disabuse their minds from such belief because it will discourage people from seeking psychiatric help early.
“Seeking help will address the rising cases of mental illnesses,” he said.
The expert attributed the rising cases of mental illness to drug abuse, stress, economic downturn and depression.
According to him, mental health services are barely accessible outside the state capitals, saying that there is urgent need to establish mental healthcare facilities at the grassroots.
He also called on the government to subsidise the treatment of mental illness to enable more patients access treatment.
According to Audu, this will go a long way to prevent mental cases from degenerating thereby making them difficult to treat or manage. (NAN)
UBO/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola