The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said that more than 60 per cent of residents in Borno State have experienced mental health challenges as a result of the 16-year Boko Haram insurgency.
Dr. Bitrus Maina, an ICRC psychologist, disclosed this during a mental health lecture and awareness session organised for student nurses, midwives and lecturers at the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Maiduguri.
The programme was organised to mark World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10 to promote awareness, education and advocacy on mental health and address the stigma associated with mental health conditions.
Maina explained that mental health goes beyond the absence of mental disorders, noting that it also involves the ability to cope with everyday challenges, manage emotions and function effectively within one’s community and social environment.
He cited global estimates indicating that mental health conditions affect a significant proportion of the world’s population, adding that approximately 40 million Nigerians were living with mental health challenges.
The psychologist also raised concerns over the shortage of mental health professionals in Nigeria, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and psychiatric nurses, relative to the country’s population.
He urged nursing students to consider specialising in mental health care to help address the shortage of trained professionals and improve access to mental health services.
Also speaking at the event, Comfort Ashelo Dauda, an ICRC colleague, described psychosocial support as activities designed to protect and improve people’s psychological and social well-being.
Dauda identified stigma as one of the major barriers preventing people from seeking mental health care, explaining that many suffer in silence because they fear judgment and discrimination.
She said the ICRC works to address mental health needs, promote healthy coping mechanisms and prevent further psychological distress among affected populations.
According to her, the organisation provides mental health and psychosocial support to people affected by the insurgency in Borno State, including families of missing persons and communities struggling with the consequences of the conflict.
Dauda added that the awareness session would equip participants with the knowledge to recognise mental health challenges and identify individuals who may require professional support.
Meanwhile, Maina Kachallah Muhammad, who represented the college’s Provost, Dr. Hadiza Yahaya, commended the ICRC for organising the programme and providing students with relevant knowledge and training.
Similarly, Bashir Goni Sansari, President of the Students’ Union Government, expressed appreciation to the organisation for the initiative, stressing the importance of mental health awareness among future health professionals.
