Copyright tribuneonlineng
THE impairment of mental acuity is fast becoming a pervasive phenomenon in the world. Its prevalence seems to defy the much-improved socioeconomic circumstances and medical facilities in many advanced and prosperous democracies. Indeed, mental health disorders have been acknowledged as posing a major public health challenge worldwide, with one in eight individuals affected, particularly by anxiety and depression. This troubling statistics is much grimmer in Nigeria, with no less than 20 percent to 30 percent of the population, or around 40–60 million people, estimated to be affected by mental illness. Perhaps underscoring the veracity of the worrying statistics, recently, a well-dressed woman suspected to be mentally unstable reportedly showed up at Panti Police Station, Lagos State, on a mission to report an element, the “sun”, which had ostensibly wronged her! The police and the relevant agency of the government of Lagos State liaised and acted promptly to assist the ‘complainant’. The police were also reported to have defrayed the cost of the Uber ride that brought her to the station. The woman, who was described as well-dressed, had taken an Uber ride from Lekki to Panti Police Station, where she reportedly attempted to file a complaint against the sun! Who reports weather elements to the police authorities for whatever reasons other than someone who has lost his/her mind? We commend the police for quickly realising the challenge they were confronted with when the woman showed up and for acting in concert with the Lagos State government to lend her a helping hand. The Lagos State government, in particular, is appreciated for promptly coming to the aid of a needy citizen within its jurisdiction. The woman was taken to one of the Lagos State-owned rehabilitation centres, where she is reported to be currently receiving the necessary medical and psychological care to aid her recovery. That is quintessential good governance and we urge the Lagos State government to keep it up, and in other areas of governance too. The economic situation and life generally in the country predispose one to mental health problems. Every human has a threshold of tolerance for hardship and once that limit is exceeded, (s)he tends to slide into insanity or a condition that makes people behave in a way that markedly detracts from reality. This is why it is imperative that leadership at all levels, especially the government, should always endeavour to ensure that policy options do not inflict excruciating but avoidable pain on its citizens. And while the degree of hardship that triggers depression and/or suicide varies from one individual to another, adversarial socioeconomic circumstances, especially the protracted type that has seemingly limitless tenure, tend to push the average human to the precipice or at least get him/her disoriented. Other factors, including genetics, the use of illicit drugs, excessive consumption of alcohol, repeated failure to achieve inordinate ambition and so on could occasion instability of mind. All of these factors, except genetics, which is natural, are dangerous indulgences that are patently avoidable. It is, therefore, important that everyone shuns dangerous lifestyles and habits that have the tendency to cause mental challenges, even as it is also crucial to be one’s brother’s keeper. Mental health issues are not a challenge that should occasion mockery of the sufferers or be taken lightly. Citizens around those suffering from mental health challenges should help and encourage them to seek help. They should be supported and helped instead of being stigmatised or mocked. It bears stressing, too, that mental health issues do not necessarily translate to madness. For instance, postpartum depression, anxiety and so on are variants of mental health conditions which, when attended to early and are properly managed, could disappear permanently. Their prompt detection and treatment can help to stymie the manifestation of overly discordant behaviour. Mental health issues are also a serious challenge to productivity and they must be addressed promptly upon detection, using the appropriate technology and requisite human capital. Ironically, the current ratio of psychiatrists to the Nigerian population is severely unbalanced. The estimates range from one psychiatrist for every 800,000 to one million people, which is significantly lower than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended ratio of one for every 10,000. This shortage is further exacerbated by the emigration of doctors outside the shores of the country, a phenomenon known as the “japa syndrome”. The bitter truth is that the current spate of citizens losing their minds in the country is intolerable. The society and, most significantly, the government, owes it a duty to ensure that every citizen is in excellent health, both mentally and physically. And since many of the triggers of mental illness are often linked to adverse socioeconomic conditions, even if remotely, government must ensure that it tackles the economic hardship in the land head-on. This is the way to go if the slide from lucidity of mind to confusion and irrationality is to be reined in. It should be noted that in every jurisdiction, socioeconomic progress and other developmental agenda tend to be achieved much faster when everyone is on board. However, in a situation where not every hand is on deck because some compatriots have impaired minds, causing them to make invalid judgements or less than lucid appreciation of reality, like in the instant case of a woman attempting to file a complaint against the “sun” at a police station, the attainment of national objectives will at best be suboptimal.
