Mental health remains largely unaddressed according to experts

According to health practitioners, “mental health is still largely unaddressed, misconceptions have persisted for decades, and stereotypes have reduced health-seeking behaviour”. This was part of discussions during the Mental Health Awareness Virtual Conference 2021, which held on 30th April and 1st May 2021. With about 40 decision makers, service providers and supporters such as health and youth focused NGOs, teachers, counsellors, and other stakeholders from local community especially those from low resource setting areas in attendance at the virtual event, the global campaign for Mental Health Promotion in developing regions took centre stage.

In her brief overview of the issue and the essence for the event organized by Vortex Global Consultancy Ltd. London, a consultant at Vortex Global Consultancy Ltd, London, Ms. Blessing, emphasized “that Mental Health is not a priority in the present Sustainable Development Goals era, despite after two- decades of Millennium Development Goals. She said institutionalisation of the mentally ill is still not practised in developing countries, with little or no emphasis put on community involvement and education in Primary Health Care facilities.

She further stated that as a global public health group, her organization is willing to partner with stakeholders and urged participants to join her organization’s five-year initiative, which is pioneering support for governments, agencies, and policymakers to prioritise mental health re-education and promotion, standardising and implementation of policies with clear objectives towards achieving Healthy Mental well-being. Mr. Kolawale, a child and youth security advocate from Nigeria’s South Western Region, in his presentation, spoke on the importance and current state of adolescent mental health, which is a global health issue.

He emphasised that many facets of this major global concern, include drug abuse, suicide, unemployment, poverty, and a shortage of basic primary healthcare services in Sub-Sahara Africa. He also spoke on human trafficking, dispute resolution, forced labour, child exploitation, and access to justice for victims of human trafficking in such areas. Speaking on Mental Health in the Workplace, Dr. Nancy, a clinical psychologist in London, expressed her deep commitment towards assisting minority ethnic groups in gaining access to culturally specific psychological therapies.

She emphasised that the value of mental health services and policies in workplaces and educational institutions can not be over looked. She stated that mental health problems influence companies and their workers, reiterating that children and adolescents who face socioeconomic disadvantages such as poverty or a lack of sufficient health or social services, which is prevalent in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are more likely to develop mental health problems, and attempts to address the mental health needs of children and adolescents remain a neglected issue.

On his part, a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Hull and an Associate Lecturer at the University of Sunderland in London, Dr. Franklin shared his expertise on WHO Mental Health action plan (2013-2020) and discussed the gaps that exists in developing countries according to WHO Mental Health related data. Revealing his quest to strengthen health institutions to enable the system become more responsive to young people’s mental and reproductive health needs in low- and mid-income countries, he noted that a lack of community empowerment to handle Mental Health Education and Care, is a major setback.

He observed that there is an urgent need to incorporate mental health policies into health programmes in communities. He stressed the need for the development of standardised plans which should be incorporated into the primary Heath care system and the capacity of outreach workers to provide basic education and awareness to educate individuals and families and improve demand should be given priority.