Mental health in Nigeria: A Neglected issue in Public Health

Wada, Yusuf Hassan; Rajwani, Linu; Anyam, Emmanuel; Karikari, Evelyn; Njikizana, Mitchelle; Srour, Lilian; Khalid, Garba M.

doi:10.1016/j.puhip.2021.100166

Cited by 30 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…More so, there appears to be lack of skilled personnel within the field of library and information science to engage in bibliotherapy; hence, there are no clearly defined programmes or services dedicated to it in mental health facilities in Nigeria. Additionally, there is a deep concern about the overall low ratio of mental health practitioners and specialists to the increasing population in the country, which according to Wada et al (2021) is put at 700,000 per psychiatrist. Therefore, this study set to investigate whether bibliotherapy is used as a therapy in neuropsychiatric hospitals, and what has been the impact of LIS professionals and mental health practitioners in its adoption in these mental health facilities.…”

Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bibliotherapy in the Wilderness

Onifade

2023

IJoL

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This study investigated how LIS professionals and health practitioners have adopted bibliotherapy and relevant information services to enhance mental health issues in Nigeria since 1962 to date. The study adopted a narrative research design of qualitative methodology. Semi-structured interviews using audio recordings and personal observations/interactions by the researchers were the instruments for data collection. The researchers collected data from three purposively selected academics whose areas of expertise cut across library and information science and psychiatry. The data collected were presented in a narrative form, with insertion of verbatim transcriptions where nuanced expressions were identified. The findings from the study revealed that bibliotherapy is used by clinical psychologists in neuropsychiatric hospitals in Nigeria; however, LIS professionals do not have the knowledge and adequate skills to practise bibliotherapy. The study recommends that the time is ripe for NLA to pragmatically implement recommendations that the LIS curricula in Nigerian library schools be diversified and expanded to incorporate valuable realms like bibliotherapy.

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Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bibliotherapy in the Wilderness

Onifade

2023

IJoL

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“…Previous studies on mental health in Nigeria have explored knowledge and attitude of community members to the various forms of mental illness through surveys, 1,2 while others have discussed the need for Nigeria's outdated mental health laws to be reformed 3–5 . That is, the 1958 Lunacy Act is outdated and contains provisions that are not aligned with current international human rights standards 6 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social domains of poor mental health: A qualitative pilot study of community stakeholders’ understanding and demarcation of mental illness and its interpretations in rural Nigeria

Lawal,

Adedeji,

Ogunniyi

et al. 2024

Health Science Reports

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Background and AimsAlthough previous studies on mental health/illness in Nigeria have explored knowledge and attitude of community members using quantitative approaches, few studies have engaged stakeholders within rural communities on the issue of mental illness using qualitative approaches. Community stakeholders play a critical role in influencing health behaviors. The objective of this pilot study was to explore community stakeholders’ understanding and demarcation of mental illness, and its interpretations in a rural Nigerian town. This is with the aim of shaping stakeholders understanding of people when they experience mental distress within the community.MethodsThe study was conducted in Ijebu‐Igbo town of Ogun State in south‐west Nigeria. In‐depth interviews were conducted among two religious’ leaders: a Pastor and an Imam, a traditional healer, a medical doctor, and a registered nurse, and a focus group discussion was held in a church with members of its advisory committee.ResultsThe findings showed that community stakeholders gave multiple interpretations of mental illness and many attribute mental illness to spiritual attack, ancestral curse, anger of the gods, and personal affliction (Ogun‐Afowofa). This has been categorized as familial and individual attributes in this study which is part of the main themes derived. The study findings also show that the understanding of community members regarding the root causes of mental illness is somewhat vague based on their poor knowledge of mental illness. This is because of the various interpretations they gave to explain mental health is based on their cultural orientation, socialization, and belief system, and not based on any medical knowledge.ConclusionThis pilot study was conducted to justify the main study. There is therefore a need for health education interventions to enlighten and educate community stakeholders with requisite knowledge for better understanding and interpretation of mental illness. Also, through mental health education interventions, community members will gain clarity on what mental health is and what it is not.

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“…2 Finally, social isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic and burnout of health and social workers has exacerbated mental illness and suicide which further highlights the need for mental health services in the country. 4,8 These various factors, combined with institutional neglect and stigma, have resulted in a vast increase in mental health struggles in Nigeria. 5,8,9 Research suggests tangible action from the government, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers is required to combat the disparity between the need for mental health services and the actual resources available.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4,8 These various factors, combined with institutional neglect and stigma, have resulted in a vast increase in mental health struggles in Nigeria. 5,8,9 Research suggests tangible action from the government, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers is required to combat the disparity between the need for mental health services and the actual resources available. 8 One impactful way to advance mental health literacy is through awareness and education at the grassroots level.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5,8,9 Research suggests tangible action from the government, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers is required to combat the disparity between the need for mental health services and the actual resources available. 8 One impactful way to advance mental health literacy is through awareness and education at the grassroots level. 7,10 Furthermore, considering the unifying nature of sport and its cultural relevance in Nigeria, grassroots sport programming focused on positive development (also recognized as Sport-for-Development; SFD) has been shown to be an effective mechanism in promoting education, life skills, and holistic well-being.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Basketball experience: Exploring Nigerian basketball coaches' perspectives of grassroots sport-for-development programming as a tool to enhance well-being

Kroot,

Blom,

Patel

et al. 2023

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching

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Considering the disparity between mental health services and resources available in Nigeria, researchers have highlighted the need for organizations, policymakers, and health service providers to revamp their approaches. Due to its unifying nature and cultural importance in the youth population, grassroots sport programming has been shown to be an effective mechanism in promoting education and life skills. In Lagos, Nigeria, the Basketball Experience program was designed to promote physical well-being, healthy living, mental health, and life skills in Nigerian youth utilizing principles from the Resilience and Youth Development Module. Researchers interviewed seven female and three male coaches using a phenomenological approach to investigate their perspectives of the program's impact on themselves and the youth they coach. Results suggest that implementing mental health education and resilience development, specifically through positive mentorship and strategies such as breathing and mindfulness exercises, into a sport for development program can assist with increased knowledge and reduced mental health stigma. Coaches strongly endorsed increased use of programs like Basketball Experience to promote positive development and combat the disparity in mental health literacy and policy, and they suggested that such programs have the power to help restructure the longstanding cycle of negative stressors inherent to life in Nigeria. Based on these perspectives, the authors discuss how grassroots sport programming can be an effective tool in the development of both coaches and youth. Moreover, the authors advocate for the Resilience and Youth Development Module as an impactful theoretical framework for facilitating resilience and life skills in coaches and youth.

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Mental health in Nigeria: A Neglected issue in Public Health

Cited by 30 publications

References 3 publications

Bibliotherapy in the Wilderness

Bibliotherapy in the Wilderness

Social domains of poor mental health: A qualitative pilot study of community stakeholders’ understanding and demarcation of mental illness and its interpretations in rural Nigeria

Basketball experience: Exploring Nigerian basketball coaches' perspectives of grassroots sport-for-development programming as a tool to enhance well-being

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