The chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Plateau, Bapiga’an Audu, says the doctor-to-patient ratio is getting worse in Nigeria, with six mental health doctors to over 5,000,000 people in the state.

Mr Audu stated this in an interview on Wednesday in Jos.

“There is (a) dearth of manpower for mental health in Nigeria. On the Plateau, we have only six psychiatrists serving a population of over 5,000,000 persons, and this isn’t only for the state,” explained the NMA chair in Plateau. “These doctors also serve neighbouring states like Bauchi, Taraba and Kaduna as patients from these states come to Plateau to get treatment.”

He called on the federal, state and local governments to address the dearth of manpower in the mental health sector.

Mr Audu noted that the simplest way to overcome the neglect of mental health is by giving people information through health education.

“Unfortunately, in our society, when we talk about health education, it is usually mainstreamed to physical hygiene alone. It should also go with mental education,” the NMA official stated.

He pointed out that not everyone with a mental illness has psychosis (madness), stating that it would be a psychosomatic disorder, encouraging people to seek medical help when they experience a mental health challenge.

The Plateau NMA chairman stressed overcoming stigma, a major impediment hindering people from speaking out about their mental health challenges.

He also called for the inclusion of mental health in health education in the school curriculum in primary and secondary schools.

A clinical psychologist, Ijeoma Laluwoye, said including mental health in the school curriculum would help children’s mental development.

(NAN)