Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) has raised concerns over the country’s severe shortage of mental health professionals.
With a population of over 200 million people, Nigeria has fewer than 200 psychiatrists, a situation described as a pressing challenge requiring urgent government intervention.
This revelation was made by APN President, Prof. Taiwo Obindo, during the 55th annual general conference and scientific meeting held in Ilorin on Thursday.
According to Prof. Obindo, the worsening mental health crisis can be attributed to the “Japa syndrome,” which has depleted the number of mental health practitioners in the country.
“The remaining professionals are overworked and poorly remunerated,” Obindo lamented, emphasizing the need to reverse this trend to retain mental health practitioners.
Obindo noted that mental health is yet to receive the necessary attention from the government, unlike in countries like Canada, which has a functional Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
”Nigeria needs to lay emphasis and importance on mental health. Mental health in the country is still a programme under the Department of Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health,” he noted.
The APN president also highlighted the inadequacy of health budget allocations, which stand at less than six percent.
This falls short of the Abuja Declaration of 2001, which recommended a minimum of 15 percent of every country’s annual budget for health allocation.
Prof. Obindo emphasized the need for increased funding to address the systemic challenges plaguing mental healthcare delivery.
A study revealed that 12 percent of Nigerians suffer from mental and behavioral disorders.
Also speaking, Prof. Owoidoho Udofia of the University of Calabar attributed the poor identification of mental illness among some medical practitioners to specific shortcomings in their approach.
Udofia also pointed out that cultural factors and misconceptions contribute to the underdiagnosis of mental illnesses.
The APN has achieved some milestones in establishing mental health programs, including the implementation of the Mental Health Act of 2021.
However, the association stressed the need for its full implementation to address the systemic challenges plaguing mental healthcare delivery.
