Ekiti Govt. enacts law to manage mental health challenges

The Ekiti Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, on Tuesday, said that the government had enacted a law to manage mental health challenges in the state. Filani stated this in his address at a webinar facilitated by Worldsmith Life Builders Foundation in Ado-Ekiti, saying the people’s mental health was of immense concern to the government.

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The webinar was facilitated in collaboration with the Christian Social Responsibility Unit of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG) Ekiti Province 3 to mark the 2024 World Mental Health Day.

The commissioner said that on account of this, the government enacted the State Mental Health Law 2022 to manage mental health challenges.

Filani, who is also the Chairman of Nigerian Health Commissioners Forum (NHCF) admonished residents to stop stigmatising individuals with mental health disorders.

He said “rather, residents should give them all the necessary assistance required to live decent lives.”

Oyebanji said that the ongoing interventions in the health sector by the Gov. Biodun Oyebanji-led administration factored in robust healthcare policy with mental health as a key component.

Also, the Ekiti Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, said that only a sound mind could be productive at the work place.

Olomojobi urged employees to deliberately relieve themselves of emotional burdens that could affect their health and invariably ignite mental health disorders.

A United Kingdom-based mental health therapist, Toyosi Agbi, stressed the need to support employees to enhance their mental balance, to think outside the box, collaborate effectively, and come up with creative solutions to complex problems.

Similarly, Pastor Kolawole Ajibowo of the RCCG, said it’s the desire of God for everyone to live happily, and urged the participants to extend hand of fellowship to one another and provide support where necessary and desirable.

A member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre, urged the participants to be advocates of sound mental health in their environment, with a view to finding effective solutions to the challenges of mental health in our communities.

Also, President of the Foundation, Dr Akinjide Akinleye, expressed the hope that the outcomes of the webinar would provide desired solutions to arrest the trend of increasing rate of Nigerians suffering from mental disorders.

The webinar advised employers of labour both in the public and private sectors to regularly conduct mental health audit on their staff for early detection and effective management of possible mental health disorders.

The event, which drew participants from Nigeria, Europe and the United States, resolved that such auditing would ensure staff health fitness not only to enhance productivity, but also boost the general well-being of the workforce.

NAN/Wumi