Experts and stakeholders have emphasised the need to demystify the stigma associated with mental health disorders towards an effective, practical, affordable, and compassionate mental health care system in Nigeria.
They spoke in Abuja at an Art Exhibition Press Briefing on the annual commemoration of the ‘World Mental Health Day 2023’ in collaboration with NEEM Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and the Federal Ministry of Health with the theme: “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right”.
Speaking at the Art Exhibition, the National Coordinator Mental Health Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Tunji Ojo, said the treatment gap in mental health cases had grown to as high as 85 per cent.
He expressed concern over increasing cases of mental health issues in Nigeria, disclosing that more than 40 million Nigerians were suffering from mental health disorders.
He also expressed concern over increasing cases of mental health issues in Nigeria, disclosing that more than 40 million Nigerians were suffering from mental health disorders, saying that the situation was worsened by the current insecurity in the country, adding that the country continually experienced brain drain in the area of medical expertise.
Speaking further, Dr Ojo noted that the predicament of people suffering mental health-related issues was compounded as a result of stigmatization, discrimination, denial and lack of understanding.
“The conversation globally is around mental well-being, and when we talk about mental health, it is a state of well-being you and I are discussing that are able to achieve our potentials and being able to cope with normal stresses of life and contribute meaningfully to our community and that community means so many things to all of us.”
“Stress is good, and it could be a risk factor for mental health conditions and, increasingly, we are saying that everything we talk about is a social determinant of health.”
“Things that we don’t think about contribute either positively or negatively to our mental well-being. Art is one of those yet not well exploited, most of which is contributing to our mental well-being.”
“Thinking of mental health as a continuum, and in all of those faces, you will see where art meets with our health.”
“There is research evidence that has shown not only hospital base intervention but community-based intervention like art, networking, social capital, people coming together, expressing their mind in different ways has a great way what to do with our mental wellbeing,” He said.
Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Creative Auction, Priscilla Asonibare, said her organisation started an initiative focusing on mental health because they realised it is a big issue in society and globally
While quoting World Health Organisation(WHO)’s figure, Asonibare said 1 in 4 people are struggling with mental health
“If you put that in perspective, that is a huge number of people who are struggling, and the issue is difficult because a lot of people do not want to come out and speak about the struggle they are having with their mental health.”
“So people struggle and die in silence because because they don’t want to speak about it for fear of stigma.”
“In September, as a brand, we focused our efforts on raising awareness about mental health and the way the art plays with mental well-being.”
“We try to use the work that artists have created to campaign against mental disorder stigma and also educate people and the ways visual art can serve as an alternative form of therapy.”
Earlier, Chinyereugo Onyekwere, Clinical Psychologist at the NEEM Foundation, explained that the theme for this year, “mental health a basic human universal right”, means people have the right to access better healthcare, mentally healthy and stay as healthy as they can.
“We want to use this avenue to also talk about mental health themes. One of the big things that is happening in the mental health space is the act that was signed into law”. She added.
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