By Longtong Ibrahim, Kano
A leading psychiatrist, Dr. Haruna Yakub of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, has called on government at all levels to strengthen mental health services in Nigeria, saying there can be no health without mental health.
Dr. Yakub made the call recently during an event organised by Positive Pathway Initiative((PPI) to mark the 2025 World Mental Health Day in Kano.
He identified early warning signs of mental illness to include sudden changes in behavior, sleep problems, mood swings, irritability, hallucinations, and social withdrawal.
He explained that mental disorders could stem from a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and social factors — often triggered by stressors such as bereavement, bullying, trauma, gender-based violence, and financial distress.
“Mental health is everybody’s business. We must look after ourselves and others. A simple word of kindness can protect someone from breaking down psychologically, just as stigma or abuse can trigger illness,” he stated.
In her remarks, the executive director of PPI, Ruquayya Tofa, emphasized the need for a functional psychosocial framework to support victims of disasters and traumatic experiences, including counseling, psychoeducation, and community-based mental health services.
She lamented the acute shortage of mental health professionals in the country, noting that Nigeria has fewer than 400 psychiatrists serving over 200 million people.
“In Kano State, we have barely 14 psychiatrists attending to thousands of patients,” she said, urging government to offer scholarships to medical students interested in psychiatry and to establish a State Mental Health Board to regulate services and protect patients’ rights.
She also called for the domestication of the national Mental Health Act in Kano State and the inclusion of mental health services in primary healthcare delivery.
“Government must invest in mental health infrastructure and policy. If mental health is ignored, every other health investment becomes meaningless,” she stressed.