A CONSULTANT Clinical Psychologist, Dr Leonard Okonkwo, on Tuesday in Lagos, urged Nigerians to stop stigmatising people with mental illness, but rather, encourage them to seek professional help.
Okonkwo, who works at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), gave the advice while speaking with journalists at the 11th International Conference of Community Psychology at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.
He represented the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, at the conference, which had the theme: “Reconnecting to the Source: Waves of Water, Waves of Change.”
The psychologist said the perception that mental illness was synonymous with madness was outdated, urging the public to embrace a broader understanding of mental health.
“Most of the time, people think mental illness is madness, but we have moved away from that concept of madness,” he said.
Okonkwo explained that mental illness occurred when an individual experienced abnormalities in emotions, behaviour, thought processes or general functioning.
He also faulted the portrayal of mental illness in Nollywood, saying it sometimes created the impression that mental illness was caused by supernatural forces or wrongdoing.
“Nollywood tends to give the impression that mental illness is caused by one person in the village. No, that is not the true picture,” he said.
According to him, anyone can develop a mental health challenge, irrespective of background, social status or circumstances.
He, therefore, called for an end to stigmatisation, saying it discouraged people experiencing mental health challenges from coming forward to seek appropriate treatment.
The psychologist also urged Nigerians to recognise the important role of mental health professionals in helping people overcome psychological challenges.
“There are certain things that people cannot do on their own. They need the help of professionals,” Okonkwo said.
He said greater patronage of mental health professionals would contribute to healthier individuals, families and communities.
In his keynote address, Abayomi said health crises were becoming increasingly complex, stressing that health began in families, schools, workplaces and communities, rather than hospitals.
He said that individual health was influenced not only by biology but also relationships, culture, socio-economic circumstances, environment and access to social support.
Abayomi said community psychology was important to public health because it encouraged society to consider the social and environmental contexts affecting individuals.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond treating illnesses to promoting well-being, preventing diseases and strengthening communities.
The commissioner said traditional community structures, including families, neighbours, elders and institutions, had historically provided support, protection and belonging.
He called for these strengths to be combined with contemporary scientific knowledge to improve healthcare delivery.
“Communities should not merely be recipients of healthcare. Community must be a partner in creating health,” he said.
Abayomi said mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, trauma, suicide and family difficulties, affected individuals, families and communities.
He called for stronger mental health promotion, prevention, early identification, community-based intervention and rehabilitation.
The commissioner said psychologists, particularly community psychologists, had critical roles in strengthening social support, reducing stigma and developing practical responses to psychological challenges.
He urged psychologists to take their expertise beyond consulting rooms to where people live, learn, work and raise their families.
Abayomi said Lagos, as a rapidly growing and diverse megacity, faced challenges involving urbanisation, youth development, substance misuse, mental health and healthcare access.
He stressed that the challenges required collaboration among government, universities, communities and professionals across medicine, psychology, nursing, public health and social work.
The commissioner called for research addressing real community needs, evidence-based policies, culturally relevant interventions and stronger partnerships among universities, governments and communities.
He urged universities to ensure that knowledge generated through research moved beyond academic publications and translated into interventions capable of improving people’s lives.
Abayomi urged participants to prioritise prevention, place communities at the centre of health interventions and integrate mental health into primary and community healthcare.
He also advocated scientifically sound and culturally relevant interventions, while calling for greater investment in young people as future professionals, researchers and community leaders.
He said reconnecting to the source should mean reconnecting healthcare with humanity, psychology with communities, research with action and policies with people’s lived experiences.
Abayomi expressed hope that the conference would produce partnerships, practical interventions, research and policies capable of strengthening communities and improving lives.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, in her welcome address, said universities must ensure that research and knowledge generated in their institutions addressed the realities of surrounding communities.
She said community psychology was important because it encouraged researchers to examine the social and environmental conditions shaping human behaviour and wellbeing.
According to her, issues such as identity, inclusion, belonging, inequality, social support, resilience and mental health require deeper attention, particularly amid Africa’s rapid social and economic changes.
The VC urged scholars to move beyond merely studying communities, stressing the need to listen to communities and understand their realities.
“We must therefore move beyond merely studying communities. We must listen to them,” she said.
She said knowledge generated through research should, where possible, contribute to improving the lives of people within communities.
Olatunji-Bello also urged participants to use the conference to exchange ideas, build relationships and create partnerships capable of producing practical solutions to community challenges.
She urged participants to ensure that the lasting value of the conference extended beyond formal presentations to conversations, partnerships and ideas capable of improving communities. (NAN)
