The Lagos State Government in its bid to ensure the mental well being of its citizen has said that it is committed to a mental health policy that seeks to combat stigma and discrimination against individuals or groups with mental health problems.
The state government has also appealed for emotional and practical support for people living with Schizophrenia, a long term disorder of the brain, which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who disclosed this on Tuesday during a press conference to commemorate this year’s World Mental Health Day, noted that the State’s Mental Health Policy seeks to increase awareness and sensitization of individuals, communities, vulnerable and special groups to mental health, combat stigma and discrimination against individuals or groups with mental health problems and promote their social inclusion as well as teach early detection and management of sub-normality, autism and other childhood and adolescent mental health issues through mental health promotion.
Idris stated that mental health contributes directly to about 14 per cent of the burden of disease, stressing that the contribution of mental health to burden of diseases is underscored by many study reports, including the World Development Report and Global Burden Disease Report.
He said: “Essentially, these reports emphasised the need to pay attention to well the well-being of those afflicted by mental disorders.
“More specifically, they make recommendations to expand and improve the current systems of mental health delivery, provide cost effective interventions and provide effective care, enhancing the human resources, establishing national health policies, legislation and programmes, encouraging families, communities and users to be involved and engaging in the reduction of stigma and discrimination.”
Idris noted that the man made consequences and collateral damage caused by widespread stigma, ignorance and general negative attitude and lack of understanding on the part of the public towards mental ailment, needed to be vigorously tackled and overcome.
The Commissioner stated that the theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day: “Living with schizophrenia,” is geared towards raising awareness about the mental ailment and mobilising support for care of individuals with the ailment.
Idris noted that the roles to be played by friends and relations in the care of an individual with Schizophrenia cannot be overemphasised, especially in view of the need to encourage individual with signs and symptoms to seek specialist care..
He said: “Friends and relations of an individual with Schizophrenia should encourage the affected individuals to seek specialist care.
“Friends and relations should also stay positive and supportive, avoid critical comments, get correct information about schizophrenia, be sensitive to the feelings of relatives and friends living with Schizophrenia and encourage them to take their medication.”
Idris added that friends and relations, while providing emotional and practical support, should also observe closely for early warning signs of relapse and should seek for support if they find their role to be challenging.
The Commissioner explained that Schizophrenia is a relatively common illness and about one out of every 100 human being may expect to suffer the illness at some time in their lives, stressing that the ailment usually requires long term treatment.
“Individuals with schizophrenia may have difficulty distinguishing what is real from what is imaginary, may be unresponsive and withdrawn and have difficulty expressing normal emotions in social settings,” Idris added.
Idris posited that the ailment is often diagnosed between ages 15 and 35, stressing that many of the obviously mentally ill destitutes who wander about on the streets of Nigerian towns are suffering from long-standing Schizophrenia.
He also noted that many of those who are admitted to long-stay mental health facilities are suffering from Schizophrenia, adding that a person with the ailment may be observed talking aloud as he responds to voices he is hearing.
He said: “The speech may be incoherent.
“There may be a variety of false beliefs and unusual experiences because the individual is out of touch with reality.
“He may not be aware that he is ill and in need of treatment and so may resist any effort to help him.”
Idris noted that there is no single test to diagnose schizophrenia, adding that the condition is usually diagnosed after assessment by a specialist in mental health, stressing also that effective treatments are available for treatment of ailment.
According to him: “The treatment available for the disease will include a combination of medication, psychological therapies and rehabilitation.”
He said most people with the condition will make a recovery with appropriate treatment, although some may experience the occasional return of symptoms.
Idris posited that early diagnosis and treatment improves the individual’s chances of maintaining their social relationships and career prospects, adding that Individuals living with schizophrenia can maintain their mental wellbeing by learning to recognise the signs of becoming unwell in time, avoiding drugs and alcohols, taking their medication as prescribed, keep follow-up appointments and maintain a healthy lifestyle by engaging in exercise, healthy diet and avoiding harmful habits.