The Rotary Club of Abuja in partnership with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada and other stakeholders have advocated for inclusive mental health policies in Nigeria during the World Mental Health Day celebration held on Oct. 10 in Abuja, with the theme titled “Making Mental Health A Universal Human Rights”.
Rotarian Ayodele Stephen, President Rotary Club of Gwagwalada, during the sensitisation at UATH, said the issue of poverty, spousal challenges, school fees, drunkenness and drug abuse were some of the factors which could affect mental health, adding that people must seek help when necessary.
Muftau Mohammed, an Expert, Consultant Psychiatrist at UATH, said mental health was an important component of all policies of the government, while calling for more attention to the challenges to help reduce the burden on those affected and help people realise their rights as an important component of health.
Prof. Bissallah Ekele, the Chief Medical Director of UATH, represented by the Deputy Director Information, Sani Sulieman, while commending the Club for the sensitisation called on people to stop mental health stigmatisation and urged those affected to always consult an expert when the need arises.