The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria on Monday advocated for the incorporation of mental health care services into primary and secondary health care facilities in the country.
This information is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its 44th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Calabar on Monday.
The communiqué signed by the Chairman, Communiqué Drafting Committee, Dr Bassey Edet, said it had observed that the spread of mental health care services in Nigeria was still low.
It stressed the need for an urgent passage of the mental health bill, saying that the passage would provide framework for the implementation of the National Mental Health Policy.
The communiqué also observed that child-related social indicator in Nigeria was largely poor with adverse implications for children’s mental health and well-being.
“The country needs to improve on its commitments to provide resources for child development like qualitative early education, social protection for children and maternal/child health.
“Such investment will ensure improved human development indicators in the country, and by extension, improved national health,’’ it said.
The conference deliberated on the psychological impact of trauma arising from the rising incidence of kidnappings, bombings and general insecurity in the country.
It called for greater advocacy and participation by mental health professionals in military training programmes as well as civil-military collaboration with urgent need for military manpower capacity building in mental healthcare.
