A Consultant Psychiatrist, Prof. Taiwo Sheikh, has called for urgent improvements in mental healthcare delivery across Nigeria, citing a significant gap between mental health services and other areas of medical care.
Prof. Sheikh, who is also the Coordinator of the Suicide Advocacy Working Group, made the call on Thursday during an interview with journalists in Lagos.
He pointed out that while the country had more than 50 government hospitals dedicated to maternal health and thousands of private hospitals serving similar roles, mental health facilities remained few.
He added that the mental health services were mostly inaccessible outside state capitals, highlighting a significant gap in healthcare access across Nigeria.
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“It is essential that people living with mental health conditions have reliable access to treatment and care,” Sheikh said.
He advocated for establishing mental health services at the grassroots level, especially in rural communities where most mental illnesses occur.
Sheikh noted that inadequate funding for mental health research and services had left many Nigerians underserved.
He warned that failing to prioritie mental and emotional wellbeing could result in significant social and economic consequences.
Calling on NGOs, government bodies, religious organisations, and communities to join forces, Sheikh stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to close the gap in mental health access.
He cited that 75 to 95 per cent of people with mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries were unable to access adequate care.
Sheikh urged the government to increase investments in mental health and combat the stigma faced by patients and mental health professionals alike.
He also emphasised the need for effective policy implementation and better monitoring of mental health indicators to ensure that more Nigerians received the care they needed.