Sodiq Ojuroungbe Stakeholders from diverse sectors, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, legal practitioners, and patient advocates, have called for the swift implementation of Nigeria’s National Mental Health Act. They emphasised the critical importance of safeguarding rights, enhancing community-based services, and improving mental healthcare standards nationwide. The stakeholders made the call at an interdisciplinary colloquium held to commemorate 2024 Mental Health Week, where over 120 participants convened to deliberate on strategies to advance mental healthcare in the country.
In a communique signed by the colloquium convener and obtained by PUNCH Healthwise, the participants underscored the urgency of operationalising the National Mental Health Act to safeguard human rights and elevate the standard of care for individuals grappling with mental health conditions. Among the key recommendations put forth by the participants was the immediate establishment of a dedicated Department of Mental Health Services, which will be a pivotal initial step towards the effective implementation of the Act. Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the imperative of widely disseminating the Act in accessible formats across diverse linguistic communities, alongside targeted outreach to religious, philanthropic, governmental, and educational institutions.
Recognising the pivotal role of media in shaping public perception and awareness, the communiqué highlighted the importance o.