Sodiq Ojuroungbe
Stakeholders from diverse sectors, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, legal practitioners, and patient advocates, have called for the swift implementation of Nigeria’s National Mental Health Act.
They emphasised the critical importance of safeguarding rights, enhancing community-based services, and improving mental healthcare standards nationwide.
The stakeholders made the call at an interdisciplinary colloquium held to commemorate 2024 Mental Health Week, where over 120 participants convened to deliberate on strategies to advance mental healthcare in the country.
In a communique signed by the colloquium convener and obtained by PUNCH Healthwise, the participants underscored the urgency of operationalising the National Mental Health Act to safeguard human rights and elevate the standard of care for individuals grappling with mental health conditions.
Among the key recommendations put forth by the participants was the immediate establishment of a dedicated Department of Mental Health Services, which will be a pivotal initial step towards the effective implementation of the Act.
Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the imperative of widely disseminating the Act in accessible formats across diverse linguistic communities, alongside targeted outreach to religious, philanthropic, governmental, and educational institutions.
Recognising the pivotal role of media in shaping public perception and awareness, the communiqué highlighted the importance of leveraging media platforms to amplify patient rights enshrined in the Act, alongside incorporating personal testimonies to foster empathy and combat stigma surrounding mental health.
The communique read, “The need for tailored educational initiatives within both academic and professional spheres was underscored, with a call for integrating Mental Health Act education into curricula across medical, law, police, military, and administrative institutions.
“Collaborative partnerships with traditional healers were also advocated to ensure inclusive patient care, while the establishment of a Mental Health Fund through public-private collaboration emerged as a priority to bolster financing for mental health services.”
In a collective commitment to drive tangible progress, participants pledged to champion the recommendations outlined in the communiqué at all levels.
They advocated for the swift implementation of the Act to effect transformative advancements in mental health service delivery nationwide.
They, however, emphasised the shared dedication to upholding the dignity and well-being of every individual grappling with mental health challenges, thus, heralding a new era of concerted action and progress in Nigeria’s mental healthcare landscape.
“The collective efforts witnessed in this colloquium underscore our shared commitment to revolutionize mental healthcare in Nigeria. By advocating for the swift implementation of the National Mental Health Act, we are poised to effect transformative advancements that uphold the dignity and well-being of every individual facing mental health challenges,” the communique further stated.
In January 2023, former President, Muhammadu Buhari signed the harmonised Mental Health Bill into law.
The Bill, which was harmonised by the Senate and House of Representatives in 2021, will replace the Lunacy Act of 1958.
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