WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2021, Initiated by World Federation for Mental Health WFMH, and endorsed by World Health Organisation WHO, October 10, is a date set aside to mark World Mental Health Day, with an objective to raise awareness of mental health issues globally and mobilize support for mental health. It also creates a platform for stakeholders working in mental health to discuss their progress and what more needs to be done to improve mental health globally.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Mental Health in an Unequal World”, Abia State director, National Orientation Agency, Dr lady Ngozi Okechukwu said Mental healthcare is the responsibility for all and stressed the need to make it a reality. Dr Okechukwu noted that the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on people’s mental health is severe, adding that those affected most include health workers and frontline workers, students, people living alone and others with pre existing mental health conditions.
She pointed out that the services for mental and neurological disorders had been disrupted significantly, while
Support and sensitisation are needed to breach the gap of inequality around access to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support services.
Dr Ngozi Okechukwu
According to her, stakeholders should all work towards making mental health care a reality for all.
The Director Amaudo Itunbuzo center for mental ill destitute, Very Reverend Kenneth Nwaubani identified insecurity in Nigeria as top on the list of the causes of Mental Health, while depression, hunger and poverty remain sponsors of other factors of mental disorder. Reverend Nwaubani disclosed that those in the internally displaced camps could develop mental health due to their ugly experiences in the camp.
He posited that Government needs roles to play to eliminate or reduce to tackle mental health, which include provision of security, jobs, reduction of poverty to mention but a few.
The Methodist cleric advised the government to marshal out strategies to assist the poor in the society while insisting that the gap between the poor and Rich in the society is much, hence, the need to provide means of surviving hunter, depression and starvation in the society.
