THE Lagos State government has developed a new mental health policy that would guarantee free treatment of mental disorders at all levels of care.

The policy which ensures comprehensive coverage of mental healthcare issues would be pursued through integration of mental healthcare services into Primary Healthcare.

The introduction of the policy is coming on the heels of the World Health Organization, WHO, declaration that no fewer than one million people take their own lives globally due to mental related problems. Before now, psychiatric admissions in most public hospitals cost N50.000 for a period of two months and as high as N100, 000 in private hospitals depending on the hopsital.

Investigations in traditional homes revealed that psychiatric patients are made to pay as much as N150.000 apart from the inhuman treatment that goes with it.

The policy which is to be implemented soon, comprises mental health promotion, primary care and access to services, treatment guidelines at primary healthcare levels, services for people with severe mental illness, reduction of workplace stress and a risk of suicide as well as human resources for mental health.

Launching the policy in Lagos as part of the commemoration of the 2011 World Mental Health Day, with the theme; “The Great Push, Investing in Mental Health, Visibility, Rights and Recovery,” the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said: “This policy is based on the national philosophy of social justice and equity, and it is hoped that in that full implementation will commence very shortly.”

According to him, the objective of the State government is to sharpen the concept of recovery and define its principle features. “We will promote, implement, and adopt any appropriate and culturally acceptable method for bringing relief to those suffering from mental illness,” he stated.

Giving insight into the policy, Idris said that apart from free treatment, persons with mental cases will be offered referral to specialist services for further assessment, treatment and care if they require.

He said: “Mental, neurological and substance abuse account for 14 per cent of the global burden of diseases and in Lagos alone, an average of 14 per cent of the total population suffer from one form of mental illness or the other. These illnesses may not necessarily be psychosis but untreated minor mental illnesses which affect the quality of life.”

The policy will ensure that anyone who has attempted suicide has a mental health evaluation free of charge and also develop local systems for suicide audits to learn lessons and take necessary action.

Under the policy, concerted effort is to be made to train and retrain existing personnel and employ as required. Idris further disclosed that the Lagos state government under the policy will be pushing for the updating and modernisation of mental health legislation in Nigeria. The extant law was revised in 1955 and the draft of a new law drawn up in 2003 is yet to be passed by the National Assembly.

The policy will also encourage and fund research into mental health issues including traditional remedies. Quoting WHO report, he said “an estimated 150 million people are affected by alcohol use disorders, 40 million people suffer from depression, 40 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and the suicide is on the increase.”