A renowned Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Medical Center, Gusau, Zamfara, Dr Aremu Saad, says over 20 per cent of Nigerians suffer from different forms of mental illnesses.
Dr Aremu made this disclosure in Gusau on Thursday while speaking with journalists.
This comes to about 40 million patients against the backdrop of Nigeria’s 200 million population.
He also said many of the patients do not know that they were not well due to negligence of routine medical checks.
He said the figure was part of various mental health care researches conducted by experts in recent years.
“We are also very sure that only about 20 per cent of those with the illness have violent tendencies and the illness is curable, if medical care is given and the patient adheres to the doctor’s prescriptions.
He said that the situation was further compounded by the non-passage of Mental Health Bill by the National Assembly.
He said mental illnesses could occur due to drug abuse, genetic transfer, depression, or even if one loses an election, like in recent times in Nigeria.
Aremu then expressed confidence in the passage of the bill on Mental Health, noting that it would address the issues of treatment, facilities, offenders who hide behind mental illness and stigmatisation among others.
