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Tag: Psychiatrist

  • 60m Nigerians suffering from mental illnesses – Psychiatrist

    60m Nigerians suffering from mental illnesses – Psychiatrist

    Prof. Taiwo Obindo, President, the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), says that more than 60 million Nigerians are suffering from mental illnesses.

    Obindo, who is also the Chairman, Faculty of Psychiatry, West African College of Physicians, Nigeria Chapter, said this in an interview with NAN on Sunday in Abuja.

    “Mental healthcare is in a sorry state given that we have more than 60 million Nigerians suffering from various mental illnesses and the fact that only about 10 per cent of them were able to access appropriate care.

    “We are left with more than 90 per cent who are unable to access care and this group is called the treatment gap for mental illnesses,’’ Obindo said.

    He said the gap was a result of various factors like the knowledge gap in which people do not have appropriate information about the causes and treatment for mental illnesses.

    Obindo said some factors hindering the management of mental illness in Nigeria included myths and traditional beliefs; inadequate mental health facilities and number of mental health professionals.

    According to him, the few available mental health facilities were located in the city centres.

    “Knowing that 60 per cent of Nigerians live in the rural areas, they do not have access to appropriate care and have to travel long distances to access facilities,” Obindo said.

    He also said that the number of mental health practitioners was low as it fell below the ratio recommended by the World Health Organization.

    According to him, the few that were trained were often eager to leave the country.

    “The environment in which we practice, the security situation and the remuneration that people were given in the country tend to push them out.

    “And then of course, the pull factor from the developed countries where they tend to poach on the already trained medical practitioners in the country, particularly the psychiatrists,” he said.

    Obindo said that the cost of hiring practitioners in low medium income countries was low; so ”it was easier for developed countries to poach the already made products rather than training such professional locally.”

    He said there was a need for Nigeria to implement its Mental Health Policy on the practice of psychiatry.

    Obindo added that although the document was last reviewed in 2013, it was not being implemented.

    He said one major component of the policy was the integration of mental health into primary healthcare, which was yet to be achieved after nine years.

    The psychiatrist added that the law operational in the country was the “lunacy act”, which was first enacted in 1916 and reviewed in 1958.

    ”The Mental Health Bill by the mental health stakeholders led by the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria (APN), in conjunction with the National Assembly and the Ministry of Health was yet to be assented to by the President.

    ”This is the most recent effort in 30 years,” he said.

  • Why children misbehave, disobey – Psychiatrist

    The Head, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UCH, Ibadan, Dr Tolulope Bella-Awusah, says that the upstairs brain, that controls action and behaviour is not yet matured or still developing in children.

    Bella-Awusah made the observation in an interview with NAN on the sidelines of a scientific conference organised by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, on Tuesday in Lagos.

    She noted that the human brain was made up of the upstairs and downstair brain; which their functions generally were to keep human being alive and safe.

    Bella-Awusah stated that the downstairs brain was mainly responsible for breathing and emotional feelings, while the upstairs brain controls behaviour, actions and thinking in human being.

    According to her, the downstair brain is usually developed before birth, while the upstair brain develops and matures when an individual reaches 25 years of age.

    The psychiatrist regretted that parents and caregivers inflict different kinds of corporal punishment such as spanking, flogging or slapping on children, in a bid to discipline and correct their bad behaviours and actions.

    “The upstairs brain that controls actions develops/matures in a human being at the age of 25; as a result, it is absent in children.

    “And until a child reaches that age, he/she can’t have the articulation and intellectual ability for a good or perfect behaviour.

    “This is why a child, after being beaten over a particular action, the same child goes back to repeat that act or even do the worst,” Bella-Awusha said.

    She stated that the development and maturity of the upstairs brain could only be attained when a child grows to the age of 25.

    According to her, the body system development cannot be rushed or fast-forwarded, saying that it will develop and starts to function well at its maturity stage.

    Bella-Awusah, therefore, advised parents and caregivers to give the necessary support, care and love to their children, to help grow and reach the age at which the upstairs would be developed for them to know the rights and wrongs.

    The psychiatrist, however, admitted that children should not be allowed to do anything they like, advising that other disciplinary measures rather than corporal punishment should be applied.

    “Just the way a new born baby can’t start walking or sitting the day he/she is born, the baby grows to start walking or talking when he gets to the stage.

    “The same is applicable to intellectual mentality, unless a child reaches the 25 years average age, the psychotic reasoning will not be complete.

    “So, there is no need for beating or bullying children with the intention to discipline/correct them, instead, apply other disciplinary measures; which social deprivation is one of them,” she said.

    Contributing, Dr Mashudat Bello-Mojeed, Head, Child and Adolescent Centre, Oshodi Annex of the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital Yaba, said that parents were critical element in the upbringing of a child.

    Bello-Mojeed, also a psychiatrist, said that parents owe the responsibility of inculcating good morals in their children, which she said could be achieved through training and retraining of the children.

    According to her, corporal punishment is not an effective form of corrective measure, as it does not improve behaviour, rather, it inflicts injury, physical and emotional pains.

    She emphasised the need to look beyond children’s behaviours, but to focus on addressing the causative factors.

    “We should be looking out for what is driving the particular behaviour a child exhibits at any point in time.

    “For instance, a child is disturbing and crying profusely; try to find out if that child is either hungry or facing some sort of challenges and address it,” Bello-Mojeed said.

  • Get a psychiatrist to examine me if I join Obasanjo’s coalition – Soyinka

    Get a psychiatrist to examine me if I join Obasanjo’s coalition – Soyinka

    Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka said a psychiatrist should be called to examine him should he join the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) recently launched by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Soyinka spoke in an interview with BBC Yoruba Service, which began online on Monday.

    Obasanjo had in a letter written to President Muhammadu Buhari in January, canvassed a new movement that will give Nigeria a new leadership.

    But Soyinka said: “Me? Obasanjo would establish a group and I will become a member of such group? That means they should get a psychiatrist to examine me,” he said.

    Soyinka advised Nigerians to be cautious in accepting at face value, Obasanjo’s letter and the statement issued by former military president, Ibrahim Babangida.

    ‘‘When these Generals begin to write letters there is the possibility that what they have in mind is different from what we have in mind.”

    However, Soyinka said the content of the message should be examined even though the messengers were not trustworthy.

    “When these Generals begin to speak, we are supposed to get suspicious and ask what exactly do they have in mind? It is possible that what they have in mind is different from what we have in mind,” he said.

    “You can look at it from two perspectives, the messenger and the message. The message should be examined closely. We should not look at the misdeeds of the messenger alone.

    “Let’s start by asking, is he saying the truth or telling lies, or is he being tricky? “If he is saying the truth and talking about things that are beneficial to the masses, we would allow that be.

    “After that, we would now look at the person speaking, what is in his mind? …even if it’s a little child who is speaking, as far as that child is saying the truth, we won’t ask the child to keep quiet. We won’t ask the child what do you know?

    “We would listen. It is the same situation with those who have presided over the affairs of this nation without making significant progress.

    “We have seen their weaknesses, we have seen their nakedness in public, if they now want to be covered, by saying that they have turned a new leaf, we would examine that too. What I am saying in essence is that what they have said should also be examined.”

    While urging the youth to come together to present a candidate to represent them, he said the older generation would support them if they are serious.

    “We have a lot of them. It is the turn of the younger ones. If they come together, as we speak, if they can start now and bring out one individual among them, we will work with him.”

  • Over 9 million Nigerians suffering from depression – Psychiatrist

    Dr Daramola Tayo, Chief Consultant and Head of Behavioural Medicine, Karu General Hospital says an estimated nine million Nigerians may be suffering from depression.

    Tayo disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a health talk on depression organised by the Public Health Department, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA.

    The psychiatrist said depression could be described as a mental disorder resulting from long lasting low mood affecting one’s ability to do things, to have pleasure or have interest in activities one used to enjoy.

    “It also reflects on the loss of interest in sexual activities among others.

    “The prevalence has been put between five and 10 per cent with an estimated figure of 180 million populations, we actually have nine million people suffering from the burden of depression,’’ he said.

    Tayo, who noted that though individuals might periodically undergo ups and downs due to loss of loved ones among other challenges, such conditions or situations could not necessarily be attributed to depression.

    He explained that for depression to occur, mental disorder must have persisted for two weeks.

    The expert identified other symptoms that could be exhibited by patients suffering from depression as feeling guilty, weight loss, hopelessness and worthlessness, loss of confidence, which could result to the thought of self-harm or attempting suicide.

    “Other causes of depression are trauma, life circumstances, chronic and severe illness, hormones, lifestyle, among others.’’

    He said that the 2008 World Health Organisation (WHO) report stipulated that by 2030, depression would be the highest cause of death globally.

    ‘ ‘In view of the high prevalence in Nigeria and the worldwide figure, there is the urgent need for governments, individuals to redouble efforts in fighting the scourge to reduce its mortality rate,” Tayo said.

    Earlier, Mrs Alice Odey-Achu, the Secretary Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA said something urgent should be done to reduce the rate of depression.

    According to her, depression has resulted in one out of 10 causes of death among teenagers, young adults and adults in recent times.

    The secretary noted other consequences arising from the condition include impaired ability to carry out simple everyday tasks, breakdown in relationships with families and impaired ability to work and earn a living.

    Odey-Achu said that the conference was in commemoration of the World Health Day with the theme: ”Depression: Let’s talk’’.

    ”This year’s focus on depression is apt as this health condition is increasing in incidence and prevalence at an alarming rate.

    ”Just like any other disease, prevention is better than cure more so when most people suffering from depression, which is a mental disorder are reluctant to seek help because of stigma surrounding mental health.

    ”This informed the inauguration of a campaign by the Health Education and Promotion Unit of the Public Health Department to increase awareness on depression, how to recognise it, where to get treatment and most importantly how to prevent it.

    ”Researches have revealed that the best way to prevent illness is still through awareness creation and health education,’’ Odey-Achu said.

  • Suicide: Seek help from psychiatric, counselling centres, Psychologist advises Nigerians

    A psychologist, Prof. Amos Alao, on Saturday advised Nigerians undergoing depression to seek help from the counselling and psychiatric centres to reduce suicide cases in the country.

    Alao, also a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, gave the advice at the 9th inaugural lecture of the institution in Ota.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture is entitled: “Can Two Work Together Except They Agree? – A Psychological Perspective of a Journey of a Helping Relationship and Change”.

    The WHO says, “Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.

    “More than 300 million people are now living with depression, an increase of more than 18 per cent between 2005 and 2015.

    “Lack of support for people with mental disorders, coupled with a fear of stigma, prevents many from accessing the treatment they need to live healthy and productive lives.’’

    Alao said, “The most prevailing causes of suicide are relationship problems, loss of a close relation, mental disorder and family problems.

    He said that there was need to strengthen the family because of its pertinent role in addressing the increasing cases of suicide.

    The psychologist advised people passing through depression not to consider suicide as the next option, saying that ending one’s life was not the solution.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts in improving the living standard of the citizens.

    Alao said that people’s psychological stability would be stable when their basic needs were provided by the government.

    He also called for adequate demographic variables on suicide victims for easy monitoring of the trend.

     

     

    NAN