This function is crafted through a technical instrumentality of government known as social welfare policy. This is the connection between social welfare and health. The mental health indices are arguably the most important determinant of the social welfare of a people and far removed from the number of people walking the street naked. Developed societies have a whole government department dedicated to mental health while in Nigeria it is only a desk struggling for survival with non-communicable diseases that are clinical products of mental health issues. The overriding importance of the mental health paradigm as an index of social welfare is poorly understood hence its modest recognition in the articulation of government policies even in our ministries of health.

Source: Punch January 26, 2021 23:54 UTC