Mental Health, Mental Wellness & Accessibility in Nigeria
Mental Health, Mental Wellness & Accessibility in Nigeria
Post by Milola|14th jan 2022
Mental Health which was once a forbidden topic of conversation in Nigeria has now become a buzzword with more citizens expressing their interests on the issue, yet despite all the catchphrases we still have a long way to go in sensitizing the nation.
Before recent times people with mental illnesses have been regarded as being possessed or attacked by evil spirits, this may sound absurd but it is the truth. It isn’t until when a person strips naked and runs around on the streets looking for who to bite like a rabid dog before even the most educated amongst us finally agree they are mentally ill. Maybe it is because we are a superstitious people by nature or perhaps it is our stubborn resilience but we really did believe mental illness was exclusive to the white people and as long as we said our daily prayers and ate our fruits we’d be of perfect health, body and mind. But thanks to this recent generation we’re getting educated about these issues.
Nowadays, you rarely walk into a big cooperate building without seeing the slogan “mental health is just as important as physical health” unfortunately that is where most of the concerns end, there is barely an office whose health insurance plan for it’s staff covers therapy, there are very few schools with guidance counselors and or therapist’s for the students. The government provided psychiatric centers are understaffed, underequipped, poorly structured and barely accessible to the citizens.
We are constantly discussing ways of bettering this issue, here are some opinions and suggestions of Nigerian citizens we gathered from a survey carried out last year.
The following responses are from citizens ages 22–27, professions ranging from artists, aestheticians to doctors, writers, nurses and students.
What do you know about mental health?
“This is very complicated, but I believe every human in the world has to deal with mental health whether they are aware or not”
“I know it’s just as important as physical health”
Give your definition of mental illness
“Well it is a difference in the psychological or emotional state of a person”
“The state of your mind going into chaos”
“It is a condition regarding one’s psychological wellness”
“It’s the state of emotional and metal wellbeing of a person”
“Something that disrupts your normal functioning of day to day activities. However, it disrupts both in a good and bad way. It’s part of what makes you you… seeing and experiencing the world differently.”
Do you think there’s a stigma around mental illness in Nigeria?
80% voted yes, 20% no
Do you suffer from mental illness?
60% voted no, 40% yes
Was this self-diagnosed or did you get an expert opinion?
75% self-diagnosed, 25% expert opinion
Are you getting treated?
100% voted no
Why not?
“I have not been able to afford or access mental care”
“No money”
“Stopped treatment”
Do you think medication helps?
“Yes”
“Yes an no. It can help short term to keep your shit together for the present time however it has side effects… also it doesn’t take the main cause of the mental illness away. It just treats side effects and symptoms of mental illness.”
Do you think therapy works?
“Yes, but the right one”
“Yes if you’re with the right person and using the right form of therapy. Talking therapy is not the only form of therapy to exist.”
How do you manage without medication or therapy?
“Omo, god and Inshallah”
“Vibes and distractions”
“I talk to my family and friends whenever I feel emotional trauma coming on”
“Stress toys, animal petting and dissociating”
Do you think treatment is accessible to the average Nigerian?
100% voted no
Do you think Nigeria is well sensitized to mental health?
100% voted no
In your opinion how can the issue of mental health in Nigeria get better?
“The government needs to invest more in mental healthcare services and awareness. More mental institutions need to be constructed. Therapy and other forms of mental healthcare should be free and accessible to everyone”
“By put out discourse on it more”
“Religion should de-stigmatize mental illness as “witchcraft” or “evil spirit”. The judgement culture in Nigeria should be removed so that people can speak freely and seek help. Not to resort to violence or invalidating people’s feelings when they come as “mentally ill”.”
What is your suggestion on how to further destigmatize mental illness in Nigeria?
“Mental health education for everyone in all spaces of life”
“By making everyone aware that it is not a death sentence and it’s absolutely normal for one to get ill mentally just like getting ill physically”
What is your suggestion on making treatment accessible to all Nigerians?
“By making healthcare accessible and affordable or free”
“By putting focus on training more professional’s in the field”
“Government funding to establish well equipped and well-educated service providers so as to make it accessible to the general public”
If you could say something to someone with mental illness what would it be?
“You are not the problem, the system is”
“Wishing them strength tbh , that’s all I could ever offer”
“You’ll get better I promise as long as you don’t give up. Keep trying to get better and I promise you’ll get better”
“I love you. You’re not a problem. You’re not the cause of your mental illness. Your worth as an individual hasn’t reduced. You aren’t damaged goods. I love you seriously”
This concludes our survey.
From the data we collected we urge the government of Nigeria to further sensitize her citizens and to provide affordable, accessible, well equipped mental wellness centers, we also suggest mental health days be granted to workers with 9–5 jobs so they can declutter and give their brains well deserved breaks.
Thank you for reading, please feel free to leave comments and suggestions.
