YOUTHS DOMINATE NIGERIA’S MENTAL HOSPITALS – MEDICAL EXPERT

October 11, 2018

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Joseph Omoniyi

Medical reports have confirmed that eight out of every ten patients brought to a mental clinic are youths who were involved in drug abuse.
Speaking at a lecture organized to mark the 2018 World Mental Health day on Wednesday in Bauchi, Consultant Psychiatric with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, ATBTH, Dr. Abubakar Bagudu said, drug abuse among young people had left them with depression and high level of suicide.
Bagudu making reference to World Health Organisation, WHO said, half of all mental health cases started from ages 14, adding that most cases went undetected.
“That is why the Psychiatric department decided to create awareness among post primary school students.
“Most youths, nowadays, spend hours on the internet, experiencing horror films and crimes,” he said. ‎
He also added that, adolescents and early adulthood were periods when many changes occurred, thus, making youths to experiment a lot of things, including drugs abuse.
He, however, said prevention started from understanding early warning signs and symptoms of mental health problems.
The consultant, who stressed the need for communities not to stigmatise said drug addicts should be re-integrates into society after treatment.