‘Establish Mental health Helpline’ – RC PH Garden City to Rivers State Government

The need for the establishment of a Mental health helpline in Rivers State to help people with mental health challenges have been emphasised.

This was brought to the fore during fellowship on November 20, at the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Garden City, Eastern Bypass Port Harcourt while discussing the topic: ‘Do we have a mental health emergency in Nigeria?’

The panelists made up award winning journalists who are past Presidents of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Garden City – Rtn. Gloria Boma Harry, publisher of Africa Update Newspaper; Rtn. Monica Ogwa and Rtn. Precious Ahiakwo-Ovie both of Silverbird Communications: Rythm 93.7FM and Silverbird Television maintained that policy makers across board need to put proper structures on ground that adequately caters to the mental health needs of the people.

Rtn. Gloria Boma Harry emphasised continuous advocacy to raise awareness about mental health challenges as very crucial, maintaining that organisations like Rotary International needs to champion this advocacy with Policy makers in the country to create access for people to easily get help as mental health crises occur regularly.

“With the economic realities of today, everybody is facing one mental health challenge or the other. We see people have mental breakdown, more reports of suicides and the rest shows that something needs to be done and very fast to address this issue.”

Rtn. Monica Ogwa observed that many people with mental health challenges are found in the rural areas and they are often neglected and maltreated largely due to misconceptions about mental health issues and mental illness and lack of psychiatric care. This she notes is because they have no access to proper medicare.

“Our appeal is to government and policy makers to include mental health care at the Primary Health Care system across the country so that people with mental health needs can get easy access to treatment. Many times we see that the psychiatric hospitals are located in the urban areas but at the rural areas where we see more of these cases, there is none. So this must be addressed.” She says.

Rtn. Precious Ahiakwo-Ovie added that as a practical step, a mental health desk needs to be created in all primary health centres where people can easily assess counselling and care.

“We always say people with mental health issues should speak out but who can they talk to? We did a little research and found that there is no number one can call to talk about that mental health issue he or she is facing. So for a start, let there be a mental health desk at our primary health centres so people can walk in and meet them.”

President Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Garden City, Rtn. Karina Igonikon noted that the easence of the discourse on mental health is in response to the call by the President of Rotary International, Gordon McInally for Rotary Clubs to seriously advocate mental health care and protection as a way to raise awareness on it so people can understand and get help with mental health.

“From our discussion today, we have discovered that there is no helpline for mental health issues in the State. So if there is an emergency now and someone needs help, who do we call? Which number can we call now?There’s none, so we need the Rivers State Government, particularly the Minsitry of Health to provide a mental health helpline so people can call at any time to get help – if possible toll-free too.”

District Governor Nominee, Rotary District 9141, Anthony Osaretin Woghiren reiterated the need for Rotary clubs to be in the forefront, advocating care for mental health issues by partnering with media organisations and well meaning organisations to break the stigma that surround mental health so patients can get appropriate help on time.

“We know that once the media gets on an issue, it goes far so Rotarians would want to partner media organisations to talk about this continuously so we can get the change we desire.”

Past District Governor, PDG Ikponmwosa Ogiemudia also enjoined Rotarians to join in any effort to help those with mental health challenges and provide support for them.

“This begins with talking about it. The more people talk about it, the more awareness is created and with that we break the stigma and shame around it because everyone of us at one time or the order have suffered mental health illness so we all need to do our part to provide help to those who need it and advocacy is key. ” He says.

Following this, the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Garden City has produced stickers and flyers to increase awareness in their advocacy for mental health protection.