Lagos Corrections Command seeks affordable mental healthcare for youths

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has stressed the need to make mental health care affordable and accessible to young Nigerians, warning that the cost of professional support often prevents young people from seeking help when they need it. The association also called for the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare, adequate funding for mental health policies and stronger support systems to ensure young people can access care without financial constraints. Professor Olayinka Atilola, Head of the Department of Behavioural Medicine at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), made the call while representing the NMA President, Prof.

Afekhide Ernest Omoti, at the Vanguard Mental Health Summit 4.0 held in Lagos on Friday. The summit, themed “Advancing Youth Mental Health in Nigeria,” brought together stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting young people’s mental well-being and ways to improve access to mental health services. Atilola said the impact of mental health challenges extends beyond the individual, affecting families, society, the economy and national development.

“When a young person struggles, it is not only a health sector problem; it is a family problem, a social problem and economic problem and national development problem. As such, the solution cuts across sectors,” he said. He explained that although government policies may recognise the importance of mental health, young people are more concerned about whether they can access professional counselling and afford the services available to them.

“A young person does not experience documents or policies; they experience counselling, health care professionals, whether care is affordable. Accessing mental health services could be very demanding because of cost. Sometimes, they don’t want to speak to their parents, but costs of speaking to professionals is constraining,” he said.

The LASUTH professor described youth mental health as a social problem requiring coordinated action from the government, healthcare professionals, families and educational institutions. “Youth mental health is a social problem,” he said, adding that mental health challenges that are not recognised and treated early can interfere with the personal lives of those affected. To address the challenge, Atilola called for the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare, no…

By Efe Onodjae The Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos State Command, has called for affordable, quality and confidential mental healthcare for young Nigerians, urging stakeholders to strengthen access to services and tackle the stigma associated with mental illness. The Controller of Corrections, Lagos State Command, Daramola George, made the call in a goodwill message delivered by the Deputy Controller of Corrections, Ajayi Francis, at the 4th Vanguard Mental Health Summit held in Lagos. The summit, organised by Vanguard Media Limited, had the theme, “Advancing Youth Mental Health in Nigeria through Access, Action and Advocacy,” with discussions focusing on the impact of social media, technology and digital wellbeing.