Health Minister Pate lists Factors Causing Mental Health Challenges

• As ABUAD Multisystem Hospital marks 6th anniversary 

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti 

The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has listed unemployment, Socio-economic and family issues as factors among others that could be responsible for mental health issues.

The Minister made the disclosure at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, during the grand finale of the 6th anniversary of Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital (AMSH).

Speaking with journalists, Professor Pate, represented by the National Coordinator for National Mental Program at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Tunde Ojo, highlighted stigmatization, economic hardship, poverty, drugs addiction, lack of accessibility to quality health care services, among others as factors responsible for mental health conditions in the country

According to him, “It is a combination of different factors which include, biological, psychological, social factors. So, if people have  people with mental health conditions in their family, they can have the tendency of developing it also . But that does not necessarily mean they will develop it.

“unemployment, socio-economic factors,  family factors and a whole lot of things could be responsible for the development of health issues. A whole lot of factors come together.

Speaking on the federal government’s efforts to address the phenomenon, he said: “We have a national mental health policy that every one can take on which is accessible to all Nigerians to be able to address the mental health of all.

“There’s a Lunacy Act that talks about the rights of people with mental health.The government in 2022 passed the National Mental Health Act which speaks against the violation of rights of people with mental health conditions.”

Dr. Ojo, who was also the keynote speaker on the theme: “Achieving Universal Health Coverage Through Mental Health Service Integration”, advocated for promotion of Universal Health Coverage in ensuring that Nigerians have access to promotive, preventive and rehabilitative health services without financial hardship.

His words: “Mental health affects everyone and when people talk about mental health, what comes to mind is maybe the person that is walking on the street naked, but the truth is that we have to be talking about mental well-being.

“Everything about mental health is not about disease, there are quite a number of people that have mental health conditions and they are getting treated and living their normal life.

“If those people on the street with mental issues receive care on time, they can live a normal life.”

In her speech, the Vice Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, who spoke on the achievements of the Hospital such as free medical services, surgeries, among others; promised that it would continue give priority to the plights of the poor and vulnerable people in the society.

The Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, said the facility gives affordable and accessible health care, coupled with modern facilities to treat patients of different ailments.