A whopping 20 percent of Nigerians and at least 40 million people are affected by mental illness globally.
A Professor of Medical Law and Ethics, Uwakwe Abugu, made this assertion at the 3rd National Medical and Health Law (NMHL) conference and induction of members, organised by the Institute of Medical and Health Law (IMHL) in Abuja with the theme: “Maintaining Optimal Mental Health in a Distressed Social – Political Economy.”
Prof Abugu, who is also the Director General of IMHL, while quoting the orld health Organisation (WHO) statistics said the conference, was germane, coming at a time when Nigeria is grappling with a staggering mental health crisis.
He stated that, in the midst of the alarming statistics, conversations relating to mental health and people suffering from various degrees of mental illness or disorder is ironically underrated.
He explained that many Nigerians youth suffer from one or two mental health issues that are either being mistaken as “clout” or termed “spiritual problems,” referring depression and anxiety as the most common.
He said a lot of youth these days suffer from mental health issues but do not talk about them for fear of stigmatisation.
Chairman of the occasion, Senator (Dr.) Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe said for all aspects of health, there are binding rules that govern the rights and responsibilities of governance.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, both underscored the role of medical and health laws to address the challenges.
Highlight of the conference was the induction of student members, associates, full members, and associate fellows of the institute.
The Institute also conferred an honorary fellow Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Dr. Charles Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi, in recognition of their giant strides in law and human rights.
