WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY: NEUROPSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL LAUNCHES HELPLINE TO REDUCE SUICIDE RATE

The Medical Director explained that, the helpline, among other things is to provide professional counseling and appropriate referrals where necessary, to members of the public who might be going through any emotional distress or challenges of life.

Penpushing further reports that, Neuropsychiatric Hospital boss explained that statistics from the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) showed that 18,608 people between the ages of 15 – 19 years die of suicide every year in Nigeria.

The Medical Director pointed out that, the help line launch became necessary  because “people who suffer from mental illness lack access to mental health services, sometimes because there are no services in the community or because of barriers the their utilisation.”

“Suicide is a global public health problem that deserves the attention of all actors in the field of mental health, including scientific bodies and professional organisations. It deserves particular attention from governments and health agencies’, he said.

The Medical Expert emphasized the need for intensified awareness campaign to enlighten and educate members of the public on mental health illness and suicide, stating that “Suicide is preventable and can be avoided, which is why all of our efforts and public policies should focus on prevention.”

Penpushing also reports that, Adebowale  added that in view of  the high rate of suicide among students of tertiary institutions, the hospital had began partnering with tertiary institutions to counsel students on the need to shun suicide.

The Medical Director said in similar vein, the hospital had been training staff of tertiary institutions on mental health counseling and how to counsel their students against committing suicide and called on other tertiary institutions that are yet to be captured in the programme to join.

Penpushing reports that, in his own remarks, Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ), , Ogun State Council, Mr. Kayode Taiwo expressed  shock at the high rate of suicide cases among the youths, stating that “if suicide is not tackled very well in Nigeria, we might be heading to global crisis.”