AREWA24 TV, a media company has commenced a health programme geared towards enlightening Nigerians on mental illness.
The TV launched its inaugural ‘Focus on Mental Health and Wellness Month’ early this month.
Throughout the month of July, AREWA24 would devote major segments of its daily breakfast show, “Gari Ya Waye,” and its women’s show, “Mata A Yau” to a series of in-depth discussions and interviews with some of the top doctors, therapists and other health experts on issues of mental health and wellness in Northern Nigeria, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
Daily Trust reports that though mental health is an integral part of good health and well-being, it has been neglected in Nigeria.
According to the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), more than 60 million Nigerians are suffering from some form of mental illness, but only 10 per cent are able to access appropriate care.
APN President Taiwo Obindo explains that the gap in treatment is a result of various factors, including a lack of knowledge which leaves people with insufficient information about the causes of mental illness and the ability to identify and seek appropriate treatment.
“People do not have an understanding about mental health,” says Nigerian mental health expert, Aisha Bubah. “So mental health gets attributed to so many cultural beliefs, superstitious beliefs and evil. And the image of mental health people have is always about the most extreme cases.”
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