The Federal Government has concluded plans to make treatment and education on mental health more accessible to rural dwellers in the South-East.
According to the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Professor Monday Igwe, the new paradigm shift in mental health treatment and education would be delivered through the ongoing robust advocacy and sensitisation at 15 rural mental healthcare centres (outposts) in the South-East.
He also explained that the Federal Government, through the hospital, would activate one outpost in each of the 15 senatorial zones in the South-East to improve access to mental healthcare for rural people.
According to him, mental healthcare centres will be of tremendous benefit, as it will help increase access to care and well-being of mentally challenged persons.
Igwe explained, “There will be improved access to mental, neurological, and drug use care for communities as they depend heavily on community mental health services.
“The proximity of the services to the people also reduces the potential barrier posed by the additional expense of transportation.
“The mental health centres being in the communities and community members working within it and getting involved in treating their own people would lower stigma and discrimination while increasing acceptability after treatment”, he said.
The medical director further revealed that the hospital has plans to initiate robust advocacy and sensitisation at the rural and community levels against drug/substance abuse and empathy for mentally challenged persons, especially among the youth population.
