The Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (BOF-PSN) has frown at the alarming rate of mental health disorders in the country with an estimated 80 percent of Nigerians with severe mental health needs being unable to obtain care due to stigma, negative social attitudes, lack of facilities, resources, and acute shortage of mental health professionals.
The Board expresses this concerns as it gears up for its Annual Mid-Year Meeting and 7th Public Lecture, where conversation around the challenge of mental health disorders will be taking central stage as the elder pharmacists are ready to engage experts in the field of mental health in examining the current state of the condition in the country, with the aim of raising awareness as well as proffering solutions to some of the issues predisposing people to the condition.
The BOF-PSN identifies mental health disorder as a global public health challenge with a high prevalence of 40 million Nigerians living with the condition, which manifests in various forms and degree such as depression, anxiety, drugs and substance abuse. With one in four Nigerians, or over 50 million people, experiencing mental health issues at some point in their lives, the group describes the development as a crisis, which requires urgent intervention.
Addressing pressmen in a media briefing ahead of the public lecture, slated for 2 July, to hold at the Festival Hotel, Amuwo-Odofin Lagos formerly Golden Tulip Hotel, the BOF Chairman, Pharm. Uchenna Uzoma Apakama expressed concerns on the alarming rate of mental health disorders in the country, which he said informed the decision of the Board in choosing the theme of the 2025 public lecture as “Mental Health: A Basic Human Right Crucial to Personal, Community And Socio-Economic Development.”
The 7th Annual Public Lecture, Apakama said, will be delivered by an array of experts, including Dr Gbonjubola Babalola Abiri as keynote speaker, and three other eminent panellists, Dr Lucas B. Koyejo a human right advocate, Commander Abubakar Liman Wali, of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Pharm (Mrs) Veronica Modupe Okugbeni, a mental health pharmacist.
He further highlighted other issues deepening the mental health crisis in the country, such as hunger, poverty, insecurity, drug and substance abuse, limited medical personnel to treat patients- fewer than 250 psychiatrists in Nigeria, translating to a ratio of one psychiatrist per million people, far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio of one psychiatrist per 10,000 people, 70 percent of patients with mental disorder treated with unorthodox methods, inaccessibility to care due to stigmatisation, negative social attitude among others.
“Our 7th Annual Public lecture devoted to mental health is a significant step towards addressing these critical issues and highlighting the important role that pharmacists can play in building a stronger, healthier Nigeria. Our commitment to this crucial but neglected area of basic human rights is calling on governments at all levels and the general public to support mental health conditions of the citizens” the chairman said. He disclosed that the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly. Hon (Dr) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, will be the chairman of the occasion,
The BOF-PSN Chairman, emphasised pharmacists role as are essential healthcare professionals who have contributed significantly to building a stronger nation. By providing expert advice, medication management, and support, pharmacists have been able to assist individuals with mental health conditions leading to healthier, more productive lives.
In view of limited number of psychiatrists in the country, Apakama tasked the Federal Government on the training of pharmacists and nurses on mental healthcare as a means of bridging the gap. He mentioned other areas the lecture will be focusing on to include the role of pharmacists in mental healthcare, strategies for promoting mental health awareness, situation of drugs and substance abuse, while making a call to action for increased awareness, support for mental health initiatives, prioritising self-care, promotion of more care centres and research.
“Government need to address the issue squarely as it did with Ebola, COVID, and others. If they see it as a problem, government will not deploy police officer to the hospitals, primary health centres, they need to train other healthcare professionals like pharmacists and nurses on psychiatry. Government should train psychiatric nurses and healthcare providers. It doesn’t have to be about community pharmacists, they should train all pharmacists that make themselves available,” Pharm Apakama emphasised.
In his contribution, Pharm Ike Ugwu, emphasised the place of personal care in mental health, explaining why individuals need to be responsible for their sanity, by deliberating identifying sources of aggression and pressure, which are capable of polluting their mental being and avoiding them. He mentioned such things or platforms that can trigger depression or anxiety to include social media, traditional media, online chatting platforms, urging individuals to exercise caution and disciples in such forums.
Elucidating more on the mid-year activities of the Board, the Planning Committee Chairman, Pharm Gbenga Falabi, highlighted programmes outlined for the week, to include Mid-Year Meeting, on Wednesday 3 June, 2025, and dinner/award night where some eminent Nigerians will be honoured for their support towards the drug and substance abuse campaign of the BOF.
