A consultant Neuro-psychiatrist, Dr Maymunah Kadiri, has urged Nigerians to shun all forms of stigmatisation against people with mental health disorder as it caused more harm than good.
Kadiri, the Medical Director, Pinnacle Medical Services Ltd., gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
She said, “Stigmatisation generally does more harm than good.
“For people with mental health issues, the social stigma and discrimination they experience can make their problems worse, making it harder to recover.
“It may cause the person to avoid getting the help he/she needs because of the fear of being stigmatised.”
Kadiri decried the effects of stigmatisation on mental health, saying that it contributed immensely to the poor recognition, neglect and lack of attention given to mental health in Nigeria.
She said stigmatisation against mental illness could lead to feelings of shame and self-consciousness.
According to her, stigmatisation is a key barrier to access and utilisation of mental health services, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
She, therefore, urged people suffering from mental illnesses to desist from self-perceived stigmatisation such as negative attitudes and internalised shame about their own condition.
According to her, stigmatisation is when someone views another person in a negative way because he or she has a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that’s thought to be, or is, a disadvantage (a negative stereotype).
“Unfortunately, negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who have mental health conditions are common in the Nigerian society.
“The discrimination may be obvious and direct, such as someone making a negative remark about your mental condition or your treatment.
“It may be unintentional or subtle, such as someone avoiding you because the person assumes you could be unstable, violent or dangerous due to your mental illness.
“Don’t let the stigmatisation create self-doubt and shame, don’t isolate yourself or equate yourself with your illness. Always seek for help and speak out against stigmatisation,” she advised.
The Neuro-psychiatrist explained that the stigma associated with mental illness could be social stigma or public stigma, which she said could lead to institutionalised stigmatisation.
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According to her, institutional stigmatisation is more systemic, involving policies of government and private organisations that intentionally or unintentionally limit opportunities for people with mental illness.
She lamented that the majority of the health care institutions in the country paid less attention to cases of mental illness.
“Example is the lower funding for mental illness research or fewer mental health services relative to other healthcare services,” she said. (NAN)
