The immediate past president, Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria (APN), Taiwo Sheikh, has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to convert the state’s Psychiatric Hospital to a mental health institute.

“Let the government convert the hospital from a mere psychiatric hospital to ‘modern institute of mental health’ for all”, he said.

Mr Sheikh, in an interview on Friday, said the conversion would boost strides made in providing state-of-the-art mental facilities in the state.

“We need an Institute for mental health which will not just be there to provide all psychiatric services, but also be providing other healthcare services.

“Even nurses and doctors from other medical fields including other parts of the world will be going there for research, training and alike,” he added.

While commending the government’s efforts, he said more attention should be given to the mental health of the people so as to reduce social crises in the country.

Mr Sheikh, who is a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, also called for a change in the name, psychiatric facilities, to “Institute for Mental Health” to avoid stigma.

“The institute will be a hub where people will be coming to have mental health research and training on various aspects of mental health, it will also be a place where one can have on-the-job training and refresher courses,” he said.

(NAN)