Experts have called for more awareness on mental illness in Nigeria based on the perceived increase in suicide incidents since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and have urged government at all levels to ensure schools have at least one psychologist on their staff list. The experts posited that there should be adequate training for counsellors in schools and religious organisations to manage the youth especially those with depression signs that could lead to suicide. He noted that individuals with suicidal tendencies and signs must be referred to experts, urging religious organisations and schools to train counsellors on required skills to counsel people with depression. In her own submission, Dr Stella Bassey-Okoronkwo stressed that mental health awareness is one thing that Nigeria must go all out to make more people know that mental illness exists and people with such illness must be given the right counseling and recommendation. She stated that individuals who attempted suicide should go for mental rehabilitation and not prison, stressing that shortage of psychiatrists in Nigeria should be addressed as their services are needed and mental health professionals should be less stigmatized.

Source: Nigerian Tribune June 11, 2020 19:07 UTC