by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
It has been observed that, it is no doubt that many Nigerians are going through different forms of mental health challenges.
The WHO status report on mental health in Nigeria estimates that “20% (or around 40 million Nigerians) are affected by mental health conditions, with only about 10% of those with seriously disabling mental health conditions receiving any treatment within the previous 12 months.”
Bauchi State Governor’s wife, Hajiya Aisha Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, Kauran Bauchi, Jagaban Katagum, Turakin Ningi, made the assertion when she was speaking during the inauguration of the State Steering Committee on Mental Health.
While inaugurating the committee, held in Bauchi, she said it was being inaugurated in collaboration with Plan International, and the gesture was to roll out helpline to the citizens for quick response on mental health issues.
“Let us champion mental health intervention as a collective responsibility. Together, we can create a world where mental well-being is prioritized, stigma is eradicated, and timely support is available to all.
“Remember, mental health matters, and our actions today shape the well-being of generations to come,” she stressed.
She was represented by the Overseeing Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, Dahiru Abdullahi Aisha, who observed that, “Mental health is not merely the absence of illness, but encompasses emotional well-being, resilience, and the ability to cope with life’s challenges.”
She reaffirmed that, the ultimate goal of the administration is to have a fully-functional, result-oriented, affordable, accessible and inclusive health services that focuses more on the most disadvantaged, particularly people living in the rural areas, and the vulnerable population such as women, children and the elderly.
Hajiya Aisha Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad observed that, “Traditionally, mental health services focuses on secondary prevention – detecting and treating disorders after their onset. However, converging evidence highlights the potential of primary preventive and promotion strategies.
“By addressing mental health early, we can prevent worsening conditions, reduce suffering, and enhance overall well-being,” she noted.
While calling on the attention of all relevant stakeholders and partners to come up with innovations and strategies on how best mental health interventions in communities would be strengthened, she said that, “It is in this view that the state mental health Steering Committee will be established, following directives from the FMoH.”
According to her, the mental health steering committee will ensure proper coordination, strengthening and implementation of mental health interventions in the state.
“This government is fully aware of the challenges in the health sectors, including that of mental health services.
“We are also fully aware that, to have a fully functional health system, we must revitalize our health facilities, strengthen our coordination mechanism, improve our systems in terms of transparency and accountability, and invest heavily on our human resource for health and research.”
She noted that, “This will not only address the identified challenges, but also reverse the negative health indices that are associated with.
“According to World Health Organization (WHO), one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, with depression being one of the leading causes of disability and the most common emotional problem experienced during adolescent age, and yet globally, people with mental health conditions continue to receive inadequate services.”
She thanked Global Affairs Canada for providing funds through Plan International to set-up a mental health toll-free line, in order to provide mental health and psychosocial support services to individuals in needs, especially the adolescents.
Speaking earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adamu Umar Sambo, said that the inauguration of the steering committee would address issues of mental health. She explained that the committee will get the required attention, adding that the steering committee will be accorded the necessary support to enable it perform its responsibilities, as contained in the Terms of Reference for its operation.