By Chioma Obinna

The Federal Government has been urged to urgently put in place trauma lines that can provide psychological services to Nigerians especially with the recent activities of insurgency in the country.

A United Kingdom-based Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Vincent Udenze, who made the call yesterday in a press statement, noted that despite the various degree of tragedies bedeviling Nigeria, it cannot boast of any effective crisis helpline that can help with psychological interventions which he added should be a priority at this time.

Udenze, who is also the President of Reconnect Health Development initiative, ReconnectHDI, further observed that Nigerians presently are being traumatised, live in deep fear, heightened anxiety, despair, helplessness, hopelessness, depression due to the horrors from the activities of insurgencies.

He said: “The crises in Northern Nigeria following the Boko Haram insurgence are psychologically devastating.

“Governors should be advocating for improved psychological support for the citizenry. You will never know the importance of these services until you set one up and collate data on people who have subscribed to it.”

He further stated that a mental health professional from Baltimore, USA, Danielle Hewitt with 13 years of experience in the mental health field had come to Nigeria and visited ReconnectHDI and Synapse in Nigeria but was discouraged and surprised to have find very few facilities and charities available for individuals struggling with mental health problems and substance abuse issues.

She returned to the states to become the Country Representative for ReconnectHDI (on voluntary basis) and is now sending relevant documents to several persons and organisations in USA.