World Mental Health Day 2021
Theme: Mental health in an Unequal World!
Organized by
PROACTIVE MENTAL HEALTHCARE ADVOCACY (NIGUARD)
& HEART OF SOJI INITIATIVE
The issues of mental health have become more glaring but, few are paying attention to this.
The World Health Organization (WHO), sets the 10th of October yearly ,as the world mental health day to increase this awareness and promote the campaign that mental health matters.
This year’s theme is ''mental health in an unequal world''
This depicts the uneasy access to mental health, the attitude towards mental health, stigmatization, traditions and beliefs surrounding mental health issues amongst others.
To support and promote this campaign: a one day in house forum was organized to raise awareness, discuss matters on issues surrounding mental health.
The proactive mental health care advocacy is an online campaign which started as a whatsapp group and graduated to other social media handles, targeted towards making Nigerians aware of depression and it risks and hence the name Nigerians guarding against depression (NIGUARD) campaign. The organization aims to works closely with other mental health agencies to bring out the best in our near environment.
Vision
To achieve an open attitude towards mental health while addressing the stigmas with a profound advocacy for access to mental evaluation.
Mission
To lend our voice in creating an environment where people are more proactive towards their mental health and mental health issues are no longer being trivialized.
Problem Statement
Reduced accessibility towards Mental Health Evaluation.
It is said that less than 10 percent of Nigerians have access to proper mental health care and the burden on the available specialty has not helped in any way as regards the quality of care these patients end up getting. [1]
Negative attitude to mental health.
A study carried out in 2019 shows that people still send their mentally ill to spiritual homes for treatment where they are bound in chains; it talks about the unlawful detainment of these individuals against their will and the stigma they get from family member down to even the health workers. [2]
stigma around reincorporating back into the society
Study also reveals that it is difficult for individual who have being cured to get jobs.
Cost of mental health care
In 2020 4.3percent of the total budget was allocated to health and of this percentage WHO report claims that only 3.3percentage gets to the mental health. As at 4 years ago, a card in the Edo state psychiatric hospital cost about 7000 naira and this has discouraged a lot of people from getting basic mental health care.
Government funding
In an interview conducted by Aljazeera, at Yaba psychiatric hospital, it was stated that has at 2018; the hospital was running on only 10percent of its allocated budget from the government. [1]
Limited availability of professionals
It is said that 9 out of 10 doctors are seeking to leave the country and this has not lightened the burden on the available doctors in anyways.
Lack of awareness on common mental health issues
Care of the vulnerable groups in the society- women, children, youth, elderly people, employees.
Mental health laws
The WHO repot claims that the metal health law which was formulated in 1991 remains substantially unimplemented and is yet to be revised. [3]
Solution
Education on bridging the gap in mental health.
Raising awareness on common issues around Mental health
Using poetic dialogue to address the problems
Mental health self-evaluation Pamphlet
Having a network of counselors
Caring for the Mental health: Relaxation therapy
Existing organizations offering mental health assistance.
Accountability
creating support groups both in the online and offline space.
Reviewing the mental health laws to match WHO standard.
Matters arising
Metal health cuts across various sectors of our lives and thus, if we cannot be optimum in our minds the WHO has highlighted that achieving the sustainable development goals will be difficult without a sound mental state. [4]
To this end a WHO special initiative for mental health was created to help attain the highest standard of mental health and well-being.
Conclusion
What mental health needs, is more sunlight, more candour, and more unashamed conversation.” – Glenn Close
We all have a role to play in this quest and if each individual plays their part well, in the long run we would have covered a huge gap.
Let's promote Universal Health Coverage; we are called to join the mental health drive.
REPORT ON THE WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY EVENT
THEME: MENTAL HEALTH IN AN. UNEQUAL WORLD
The world mental health day event sponsored by Proactive Mental Health Care Advocacy for the Nigerians Guarding Against Depression (NIGUARD) campaign in partnership with Heart Of Soji, was held on the 10th of October 2021, from 4pm to about 6.30pm at the Mambaah Café, Maitama Amusement Park.
The event was held to achieve an open attitude towards mental health and the salient issues promoting them while addressing certain stigmas with a call to advocacy from every individual present.
The event was a success. We had a total of 11 attendees and 2 guest speakers. The speakers included included; Dr Ehinomwen Itebiye (convener), Barr. Jude Ifesemen (co-convener), Mercy Patrick (Theragist) and Rita Ezenwa Okoro (Street Project Foundation).
We were particularly more excited about how people were open up to their struggles ,ranging from stress , lack of sleep , abnormal sexual desires, issues of abuse; domestic abuse, sexual abuse and childhood traumas.
In the end, we talked about the need to raise awareness and when to get help as well as unhealthy coping mechanisms in certain situations of life like, withdrawing from the environment, excessive sleep and insomnia.
Overall, post event survey from participants (about 7 attendees participated), it was seen that a 100% of them had a favorable experience and felt better aware of certain mental issues, however those who were not able to fill the forms gave a positive verbal feedback. They all wanted something of such nature to happen again, ‘a gathering where people discussed their mental matters should continue’, in addition to this they all agreed to volunteer online in different ways they could.
The turn up was fair, although less than expected, the environment was serene and weather was favorable, the event was supported by Mambaah café and had some staffs in attendance. Some of the attendees loved the fact that the environment chosen gave them a safe place to speak on some very intimate issues. More so, they acknowledge the need to take this beyond that day.
Challenges
Publicity was not effective, focused more on the online space.
Making room for those who could not make it physically, to participate online.
Lack of external support.
This would have enabled us print some awareness pamphlets on common mental health issues in the environment.
Budget
We ended up spending a little above our budget.
The venue was supported by one of the sponsor's Mambaah Café.
Fliers and videos ads made for the program was designed by a volunteer (Akpevwe On-Emore).
The money budgeted covered:
Food
Water
Banner
Photography and videography.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the entire event was a success despite a few hitches and we the conveners and partners, hope to continue doing our best in following up to ensure that we take the impact of this program to the outside world. We also aim to start a physical as well as online mental health support group, carved to address common mental health issues across board.
References
AL JAZEERA. 2019
Https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/economy/2019/10/2/nigeria-has-a-mental-health-problem
Human Rights watch. People with mental health conditions chained, abused. Ban chaining; provide mental health services. Nov 2019
Https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-people-mental-health-conditions-chained-abused
World Health Organization and Ministry of Health, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2006. WHO-AIMS Report on Mental Health System in Nigeria.
World Health Organization. (2019). The WHO special initiative for mental health (2019-2023): universal health coverage for mental health. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/310981 . License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
By Ehinomwen Itebiye.
Dr Ehinomwen Itebiye , Medical doctor and Mental health advocate , founder of an online campaign , Nigerians guarding against depression (NIGUARD), Proactive Mental Healthcare Advocacy.
From the left to the right, the convener as Dr Ehinomwen Itebiye, Mr Jude Ifesemen founder heart of soji and Mercy Patrick brand manager Theragist
Some of the attendees.
Mambaah café, Maitama Amusement Park F.C.T Abuja.
Thanks