A Non-Governmental Organisation, Speakup4help (SU4H) Foundation, has called for more focus on mental health, describing Nigeria as the most depressed nation in Africa.
Its Director of Event, Happiness David, spoke during the National Depression Day Symposium, with the theme, ‘Mental Health and Well-being: A panacea for a healthy Nigeria’.
She said: “It is necessary to recognise the nexus between public health and mental health, as well as the danger of these two menaces, the implication and the approach to combating them. We cannot rule out a link between public health crises and mental health challenges. Nigeria, in the last few decades, has witnessed high spike in mental health crisis, ranging from depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to high suicide rate, among others.”
David, who expressed concerns about the low awareness on mental health, said the foundation was set up to create awareness about mental health and encourage healthy lifestyles through ‘necessary intervention, education and therapy for groups and individuals in the society’, thereby reducing the menace.
She said: ” It has become apparent we all devote significant effort in line with World Health Organisation and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 strategies towards combating elements and factors that trigger mental health crises.
The existing policy, legislative and institutional framework for Health System Governance in Nigeria reveals the government attention toward mental health and wellbeing.
“However, SU4H foundation will continue to bridge the existing gap in our nation’s mental health strategy to prioritise the wellbeing of the citizen by combating key element such as poverty, hunger, substance abuse, unemployment, stigmatisation, marriage/relationship crises, that could trigger mental health crises. We are therefore committed to the well-being of individuals and the society as a whole through proper treatment and necessary help, thus empowering individuals in all spheres of life to enable them live to their full potentials.”