When Mental Health Issues Turns to a Case of National Emergency: Nigeria in the 21st Century

Abstract

From one individual to another, a unique disparity remains, dictated by thorough pattern and made manifest through performance and human action. Regardless of life’s convoluted experiences from birth to death, identities remain sacrosanct, hence some are emotional, impulsive, careless, reticent, deeply meticulous, neurotic, while others are socially exuberant, methodical, shy, temperamental among others. At the heart of these reactionary responses is the Mental Platform, anatomically operational in the human brain. That as the clock ticks, a greater number of the over 200million citizens of Nigeria are hopelessly anxious, fearful, hungry, in dire need of at least one basic human need, is no more news. Utterly disturbed and worried by the Progressive national poverty level, the novel corruption, mismanagement, impunity and brigandage of the political leaders, the non-existent health and social service programme, the widening youth unemployment, the high cost of living and the depreciating life expectancy, many Nigerians are not only distressed, but depressed, aggressive and mentally challenged, with suicidal inclinations. Undoubtedly, Nigeria’s national psyche is weighed down. Just as some react by adopting the popular ‘Japa’ Syndrome for those who are opportuned, others unfortunately in trying to cope unaided, simply breakdown health-wise. Bereft of sound leadership ideas, the political class’s mental derangement is not only manifest in showcasing the nation’s depressed economy, but in the calamitous dearth of ordinary basic Primary Healthcare facilities. Existing credible statistical data have continued to prove that a dangerously high percentage of Nigerians are currently living with myriads of mental issues. A good deployment of the Causality Theory through the ambit of Health History and eclectic methodology have not only unearthed the rot that is Nigeria’s Health Sector, but the brain drain challenge, poor funding and the peculiar problems bedeviling the mental Health Sector.With the National Mental Health Bill recently signed into law, this study advocates that more attention should be directed to the Nigerian youthful population to safeguard the country’s future.