Health Expert Links Economic Hardship with Depression

The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, shocked Nigerians last week when he revealed that they have recorded a 100 per cent increase in the number of psychiatric patients admitted in the hospital in 2023.

Owoeye, who made this known at the Annual Scorecard presentation tagged: ‘A Day With the Medical Director’ organised by the hospital, said the total number of new cases increased by seven per cent, while there was a three per cent increase in the number of follow-up patients male and female.

He drove his point home when he said the increase in admission cases can be attributed to the rising cases of mental health conditions in the country due to the current economic challenges accompanied by other socio-economic factors.

“It can be deduced that in 2023, the total number of all patients’ attendance increased by three per cent. There was a seven per cent increase in new cases attended, compared to no increase in 2022. We also have a 100 per cent increase in admission cases in which the drug abuse cases are 10 percent increase and discharge cases are reduced by 10 per cent,” he said.

Dr. Owoeye was perhaps right to have hit the nail on the head. Since President Tinubu assumed power seven months ago, Nigerians have been facing extreme hardship leading to the untimely death, and massive migration of Nigerians to other countries. Many of those who have chosen to remain are suffering from sundry health challenges.

Whether it is in the area of the subsidy that was removed from petrol that has taken the price of the important commodity from N165 to about N600 or the high exchange rate, high inflation, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, bad roads and traffic, life is tough for many. These policies are really driving Nigerians crazy.

Incidentally, the president himself has on many occasions said that he is aware of the hardship the people are facing due to the various policy decisions of his administration. Though he said he is working on reducing the burden to make life easier for Nigerians, many are not seeing hope in the horizon. This has led to many untimely deaths, depression and frustration in the land.