Why Nigerians Are Prone To Mental Disorder

Dr Femi Olugbile, a Consultant Psychiatrist has
offered explanation as to why millions of
Nigerians are prone to mental disorder.
Speaking with News Agency Of Nigeria, NAN,
in Lagos, the former Chief Medical Director,
Lagos State University Teaching Hospial
(LASUTH) said at least 20 per cent Nigerians
are prone to mental disorder “At least 20 per
cent of the population will at some time in their
lives experience at least one episode of mental
disorder,” he said.
Olugbile attributed mental disorder to high
rate of poverty, lack of social welfare and high
rate of endemic infectious diseases.
He explained further that at any point in
time, two to five per cent of the 20 per cent
population would manifest the symptoms of
mental disorder at early stage “These figures
are universal, but the mental disorder can
increase in times of social upheaval, such as
war, terrorism and so on. Also, security
challenges including kidnappings and armed
robbery can lead to increased stress, which
increases the likelihood of nervous breakdown,”
Olugbile said.
The consultant lamented that the number of
psychiatry hospitals in the country are few
compared to the number of people that need
medical attention “There are eight Federal
Government-owned neuro-psychiatric hospitals,
and there are smaller units in the teaching
hospitals and a few general hospitals handling
mental cases.
“However, there is need to effectively use what
is on the ground as mental healthcare should
start from the Primary Healthcare Centres
(PHCs). All PHCs should be primed to render
basic mental healthcare in form of diagnosis and
simple treatment, while referral, where
necessary, should originate from here,” Olugbile
said.
He suggested private hospitals should be
integrated into the system to provide
universal care.