By CHIOMA OBINNA

WORRIED by the high incidence of mental illness among the aged, coupled with the high rate of  under diagnosis and undertreatment of mental disorders in the country especially within  primary care settings, a medical expert has called for the setting up of sustainable policies on long-term and palliative care; and developing age-friendly services to meet the specific needs of older populations.

Making the call in Lagos on World Mental Day, a Consultant Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist, Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, pointed out that  elderly people are at greater risk of mental disorders and complications than younger people.

Kadiri who is Medical Director, Pinnacle Medical Services, Lagos, however noted that mental health problems should not be seen as a normal problem in the old people.

“Depression is both under diagnosed and undertreated in primary care settings. Symptoms of depression in older adults are often overlooked and untreated because they coincide with other late life problems.”

In Nigeria, she said, many families are helpless when they are faced with an older and mentally challenged relative. “For most of them, traditional healers or prayer houses is where they go for help. Unfortunately, there is no mental health bill and mental health receives only a small part of the annual budget in Nigeria. There are few mental health specialist hospitals in the country and are not affordable and/or accessible for more than half of those who deserve professional help.

“There is a demanding need in Nigeria for structure and comfort in the activities of the elderly  that they will find enjoyable and hence convey a sense of joy and pleasure in them. An appropriate and supportive legislative environment based on internationally accepted human rights standards is required to ensure the highest quality of services to people with mental illness and their caregivers.

Kadiri noted thatmental health of older adults can be improved through promoting active and healthy ageing.  “We need to identify and treat mental disorders among the elderly as early as possible.   It is important to improve the social capital and involve communities and families in supporting the older adults.

“Many older adults still follow a life style that aggravates a lack of mental wellbeing. They need to be encouraged and educated do more physical exercise, keep socially connected, keep their brains active, reduce their weight, stop smoking or the harmful use of alcohol, and control their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Most of these are plausible interventions for a good proportion of the older adults in the world,” she noted.