The Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Saturday, urged Ondo residents to back efforts to enable the mental health patients to have access to quality mental health care, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.
Aiyedatiwa said this as stakeholders in the medical sector have called for immediate and proactive measures to tackle the rising rates of mental health disorders and intake of hard drugs in the country
Speaking at the inauguration of Minds Medical Specialist Hospital and Drug Rehabilitation Centre, the Governor said a neuropsychiatric facility in Ondo town, Ondo State, on Saturday.
The facility was built by a medical doctor and former Special Adviser to the governor on Health Matters, Dr Jibayo Adeleye.
He said the mission of the new medical facility was to provide quality and affordable mental health services to the people.
Aiyedatiwa said, “We are saying that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. We are affirming that every individual deserves access to quality mental health care, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.
“Let us break the stigma surrounding mental health and drug addiction. Let us seek help when we need it and let us support those who are struggling.
“Minds Medica’s mission to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality mental health services is a bold commitment to preserving the values and total well-being of our people in body, mind, and spirit. We are not only opening the doors to a new healthcare facility; we are also sending a powerful message that mental health matters.”
In his remarks, the founder of the facility, Dr Jibayo Adeyeye, stated that the motive for the establishment of the facility was to address the challenges in having access to treatment of mental ailments and drug addiction, particularly in Ondo State.
“Mental ailment is not the end of life. It is actually treatable. In Ondo State, there is only one spot where you can be treated for mental illness or drug addiction, and that is the neuropsychiatric hospital in Akure, which is being run by the government.
“With the rate of intake of hard drugs and mental issues in the country, we need to be very worried as a country. We need to be proactive. The problem is huge; it is an underestimation that it is a problem. Drug abuse is an epidemic in our society. It is an emergency; it is a problem everybody must be alert to in order to stamp it out of our society. It is a big problem, and we need to work seriously on it.”
A mental health professional, Dr Dokun Adedeji, while speaking during the inauguration, disclosed that about 25 to 30 per cent Nigerian population were suffering from mental illness, and called for help for those suffering from the ailments.
“From estimates, about 25% to 30% of Nigerians have one mental issue or the other. And even they say about 15% in the course of their lifetime will have it.
“People can be helped and then live a better life, and they become productive. So it’s not a condemnation. But I think the problem in Nigeria is the stigma,” Adedeji declared.
