Enugu -Dr George Eze, a Consultant at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) Neuropsychiatric Department, says 50 per cent of all mental illnesses are curable when patients are given early professional psychiatric treatment.
Eze told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Friday that stigmatisation was the major hindrance to early report and cure of mental illnesses in the country.
He advised families and communities to take mentally ill persons or those who have partial disconnect to the hospital instead of making them objects of negative discourse and ridicule.
“Our greatest undoing is that most families and communities hide those they should help by not bringing them to neuropsychiatric hospitals and clinics to receive prompt and professional medical attention on time.
“Some even create special rooms and places they keep their brothers and sisters with these mental challenges and confine them there for the rest of their lives; thus compounding their health challenge,’’ he said.
Eze, who was the immediate past Commissioner for Health in Enugu State, urged faith-based organisations and NGOs to assist in educating the public that most people with mental illness can be well again.
“With my 32 years in the field and consulting in and outside the country; it has been found out that there is 50 per cent chance of those with mental challenges recovering to live their normal lives,” he said.
He added that neuropsychiatric attention should be given to mentally ill persons by professional and qualified neuropsychiatric doctors on time.
“After all, each one faces one medical challenge or the other; and those of the mentally challenged should not be an exception,’’ said Eze.
The expert also cautioned people not to engage in extreme stressful condition especially the type that would deprive them of rest and sleep.
“In this part of our World; extreme stressful situation is major trigger to people developing mental challenge.
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“And that is why we (doctors) are supporting the psycho-emotional balancing efforts of faith-based organisations to remove people from too much worries and anxiety,’’ he said. (NAN)