An Advocate for Mental Health, Aisha Wakaso has over the weekend called on the Niger state government and organizations to set up trauma centres and private wards for mental health challenged Persons to enable them seek adequate medical help.
The Founder of Kings Initiative and Journalist, Wakasa noted that a lot of people cannot access the medical help being given at the Minna General Hospital because it lacks privacy which is very important to someone with mental health challenges.
While speaking after the World Mental Health Awareness Walk in Minna, Wakaso urged the government to do more in addressing mental health challenges in the state, adding that, less attention is been given to people with mental challenges.
According to her “I call on the government to do more in providing adequate services to people with mental health challenges and also well-meaning individuals and organizations who can afford to sponsor people with mental health challenges to come out and do more.
“We do not have trauma centres in Niger state or adequate experts to deal with a large number of people with mental health challenges and the situation of mental health ward and medical assistance at the Minna General Hospital is not encouraging.
‘The government should try to get a private ward and environment for people because people with mental health challenges are shy and embarrassed to come out publicly and with this, you do not expect people going to public hospitals where people will see them crying during their sessions. Privacy is needed when offering privacy and seeking help”, she stated.
Speaking to the participants of the Mental Health Awareness Walk, she said that the public should stop stigmatising people with mental health challenges adding that a lot of people hide their challenges due to stigma and end up committing suicide or drug addicts.
Wakaso also encouraged people with mental health challenges to speak out about what they are going through and seek medical help as soon as they can.
“As much as I agree that prayers, yoga and exercise can help, counselling, medication and therapy is the best way to treat mental health disorder.
” Also avoid anything that makes you stressed, keep away from people who criticize and put you down and avoid competition. Study yourself and your system to know if you have the symptoms of mental health disorder which include the inability to sleep, eating a lot or not eating at all, being depressed and having a lack of energy and seek medical help as soon as you can.”
The walk began at Shiroro roundabout at about 7 pm and the participants walked to the Obasanjo complex and back.
Several participants said that the walk has opened their eyes to several causes of mental health disorders as they said that they will try their best to ensure they spread the awareness and offer help to the best of their ability.
