71% of countries in the World Health Organisation’s, WHO’s, African Region have a stand-alone mental health policy or plan, but only 14% have fully implemented it, Blessing Otobong-Gabriel

In Nigeria, integration of mental health into primary care has been a stumbling block to the implementation of the 1991 National Mental Health Policy, 2013 Policy on Mental Health Services Delivery and the National Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Programme and Action Plan.

On Tuesday, the Rotary Clubs of Abuja in partnership with University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and with the Support of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, took sensitisation to Gwagwalada model markets to sensitise people on the importance of mental health.

They also advocated inclusive mental health as an important component of all policies and practices of the government reduce the burden of mental health problems that will help people realise their rights as an important component of health.

Speaking on behalf of the Clubs, President, Rotary Clubs of Abuja Gwagwalada, Rotarian Ayodele Steven said the President of Rotary International for the year 2023-2024 challenged the Clubs to take seriously the issues of mental health, so they took it as an international awakening which is one of the focal points of things the Clubs are expected to do at clubs even in their district level.

He said that so many things can lead to mental health challenges like poverty, spousal challenges, school fees, drunkenness, drugs abuse and many others so with all this, urging people to get help when necessary.

"Today we are creating awareness to let people know that this challenges they faced or are having is not a end to itself because if care is not taking, it will lead to high blood pressure, hypertension and more so whatever you think it is, please go to hospital thats why university of Abuja teaching hospital is partnering with rotary club to sensitise the public to let them know that they can get help,l without self medication which will eventually encompound the whole problems.

Rotarian Steve noted that government at all levels have done their best to put a lot of machinery in place so rotary club of Abuja Gwagwalada is complimenting the effort of the government, he said.

Also, an Expert, Consultant Psychiatrist, University of Abuja Teaching Hospitals, Gwagwalada, Dr Muftau Mohammed said the World mental health day is celebrated every year and the theme of the year is making mental health a universal human rights.

He informed that mental health are universal and the World Health Organization says 1 out of 4 people is at the risk of developing mental health problems in their life time and that's a huge burden.

He also noted, "when we look at the population of Nigeria about 2 billion people and that equivalent to about 15 million people in Nigeria developing a mental health problems at some point in their lives. So we talked about many factors about the burden of mental health challenges which was shared in recent research they conducted in Kaduna in the North Western part of Nigeria that shows that 1 out of 3 in secondary schools students have considered ending their own lives and a lot of factors were considered increasing the risk which includes bullying in the school system, depression Among others are some of the risks factors.

He advocated inclusive mental health as an important component of all policies and practices of the government, saying government should have sort of mental health concentration to reduce the burden of mental health problems also to help people realise their rights as an important component of health.

"We do know that one of the impediments to access to care is the financial resource and one important aspect of that is stigma and discrimination to having mental health challenge many people have mental health challenges from the burden have described, that showed that its very common and accessing care is often a challenge due to stigma.

He therefore encouraged people with mental health to strive to see how they can use their connection within the society reduce the stigma burden of the mental health challenges, they should also seek support from people.

"Government should make all efforts to implement the provisions of the recently passed mental health Act that can really go a long way in protecting and promoting the health people with mental health challenges to fully have access to evidence based high quality care to everyone.

Also, Dr yusuf Khadijat, past District polio Chair, District 9125 who double as the president rotary club of Abuja the qrandfaither said one of the role of rotary club is to create hope to the ward to reduce mental stress, doing that, you are reducing mental sickness to the World.

According to her, mental health can be dealt with in a very simple way that means whatever you don't have solutions to should not be a problem, whatever you can not change try to leave with it positively and surround your self with people who loves you because if you leave positively with your problems, you are not likely to have mental health issues.

She encouraged parents not to leave anything excessive in life but they should do things in moderation so that even if they don't turn out well, they are emotionally balanced.

She explained that poverty is the poverty of the mind, you can see someone who will cry just because he or she drinks garri but you can see another person drinking garri and groundnut and be happy the same food given you different paspective so is left to you to take anything with joy or sadness.

She encouraged that even though Poverty is there, hardship is there just because the country is not economically stable but people can make do with what they have, she said.