From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), has raised concerns over the acute shortage of mental health practitioners in the country.
Revealing that fewer than 200 psychiatrists are available to address the mental health needs of over 200 million Nigerians.
Speaking at the 55th Annual General Conference and Scientific Meeting of the association in Ilorin, the APN President, Prof. Taiwo Obindo, attributed the crisis to the growing wave of emigration among professionals, popularly referred to as the “japa syndrome.”
“These tides need to be stemmed and reversed as the remaining mental health practitioners are overworked and poorly remunerated,” Prof. Obindo stated.
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The conference, themed “Prioritising Mental Health Needs of Nigeria in a Depressed Economy: An Urgent Call for Integrated, Comprehensive, and Sustainable Interventions,” underscored the dire state of mental health care in Nigeria.
Prof. Obindo criticised the government’s neglect of the sector, highlighting that mental health remains a sub-program under the Department of Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health.
He also lamented Nigeria’s health budget allocation, which stands at less than 6%, falling far below the 15% target set in the Abuja Declaration of 2001.
“Mental health needs to be prioritised. For example, Canada has a functional Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, a model Nigeria could emulate,” he added, calling for the implementation of the Mental Health Act of 2021 to replace the outdated Lunacy Act of 1958.
In a lecture, Prof. Owoidoho Udofia, of the University of Calabar, revealed that 12% of Nigerians suffer from mental and behavioral disorders, often compounded by cultural beliefs and somatic symptoms that hinder proper diagnosis by general practitioners.
“There is a need to improve diagnosis and research, as mental illnesses are often misunderstood and under-identified in our hospitals. Substance use is also on the rise,” he said.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, represented by Dr. Musiliu Odunaiya, called for intensified awareness campaigns to tackle the stigma associated with mental health issues. She described the conference theme as a crucial conversation for the nation’s progress.
Earlier, Prof. Peter Ajiboye, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, emphasized the need for locally tailored solutions to Nigeria’s mental health challenges.
The conference concluded with calls for increased investment, public awareness, and integrated interventions to combat Nigeria’s escalating mental health crisis.
