The Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP) has expressed worry over the increasing cases of addictive behaviour and mental problems in society, calling on stakeholders to address the situation.
The National President of the association, Professor Gboyega Abikoye, spoke on Thursday during the 2023 National Conference/Annual General Meeting of NACP held at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Speaking to newsmen at the event with the theme, “The Practice of Clinical Psychology: Confronting the Emerging Threat of Addictive Behaviour and Mental Problem” Abikoye, who is a professor of Clinical Psychology, advised Nigerians to avoid illegal drugs and substances saying the treatment of mental problems is very expensive in the country.
He revealed that most citizens are battling with addiction in their daily lives, which he said was a threat to society, urging the government to collaborate with the association in the area of advocacy and sensitization of the people.
Abikoye advocated the need for the government to increase budgetary allocations to the treatment of the series of mental problems, saying the high cost of treatment had made it possible for less privileged to access quality healthcare.
He said, ” Addiction is not easy to treat. It is a chronic disease that affects the brain, and once the brain gets affected it is always difficult to change because the critical areas of the brain that regulate motivation, pleasure, and emotion have been compromised and reconfigured and it takes time and huge resources to correct it. People must know the danger for them not to get involved, once they get hooked, it is not easy to come out of it.
“The government should pay more attention to mental health issues. In Nigeria, the health sector has been receiving a disproportionately low budgetary allocation relative to other ministries, and within the health sector itself, the mental health sub-sector has been receiving less than 6 per cent of the total budget allocated to the Ministry of Health, and that is rather poor.
“ According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the allocation should not be less than 20 per cent, but consistently over the years, it has been less than 6 percent. The federal government should increase the allocation to the health sector and to the mental health sub-sector in particular and make treatment of patients more affordable.”
On why the theme was chosen for this year’s conference, he said “We have observed in recent times that the menace of substance abuse, especially about addictive behaviours covers so many areas like pathological gambling, drug use and several others. We noticed that this is on the rise in Nigeria and globally, too, and it appears to be defying all solutions.
“Every day we read about the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, arresting people, seizing illegal drugs, yet the menace is on the rise. Unfortunately, many people don’t know the link between addictive behaviour and mental health, they are very closely interrelated, one hardly goes alone.
“ Addictive behaviour most times leads to serious member health challenges, and so this is the reason we decided that this year’s theme should focus on this twin threat of addictive behaviour and mental health. And unfortunately, in Nigeria, these are issues that are not receiving enough attention.”
The Chairman of the local organising committee of the conference, Professor Olu Olatunji, disclosed that the conference was designed to address the issue of addictive behaviour, which has become a serious problem in the country.
“The problem of addictive behaviour is a problem of the society, and we want to partner with the government to solve this problem. We are professionals. If the government can listen to our recommendations and implement it, then the problem of addictive behaviour in our society will be solved,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor of EKSU, Professor Edward Olanipekun, who was represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) Professor Ayan Adeleke welcomed all participants to the institution and expressed confidence that the recommendations of the conference will go a long way in addressing the challenge of addictive behaviour and mental health issues in Nigeria.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then