Psychiatrist blames rising social vices on lack of optimal mental health

By Lilian Okoro

A professor of Psychiatry, Taiwo Sheikh, has attributed the increase in the rate of crimes, insecurity, kidnappings, rape, and other social vices in the country to a lack of optimal mental well-being among the populace.

Sheikh, the Coordinator of the Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

He said that for an individual to attempt to kidnap or rape his fellow human being showed that such an individual was not mentally okay.

The medical expert lamented the gross lack of optimal mental well-being among the more significant percentage of citizens, stressing the need for intensified efforts toward restoring stable mental health status for the citizenry.

According to him, a society that is not mentally healthy is a doomed society, saying that ‘mental health is all health,’ as there is no health without mental health.

“Mental health has become a serious issue because the degree of insurgency, insecurity, kidnap, rape, and other social vices in the country is an indication that the citizens lack optimal mental well-being.

“By the definition of mental health, it means the condition of being sound mentally and emotionally. It is characterised by the absence of mental illness and by adequate adjustment, mainly as reflected in feeling comfortable about oneself, having positive feelings about others and the ability to meet the demands of daily life.

“It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps to determine how we handle stress, relate with others, and make healthy choices. This implies that mental health is the ability to live and allow others to live; it doesn’t require one to harm others or cause others trauma/pain.

“Therefore, a kidnaper or rapist, who engages in actions that cause pains and harm to others, is not mentally stable/sound,” Sheikh said.

To the psychiatrist, the fact remains that there is a lack of optimal mental well-being among the Nigerian populace, stressing that many have underlying mental health conditions.

He stated that most victims of rape or kidnapping suffered high degrees of trauma, thus affecting their mental health too.

Sheikh said that the devastating effects of insurgent attacks, stealing, cybercrime, insecurity, kidnapping, and other crimes across the country had left several people in need of psychiatric evaluation.

He said that victims of these vices were often affected psychologically, while little or no attention was given to providing them with healthcare that would cater to their mental health needs.

The medical expert urged the Federal Government to pay attention to people’s mental health by creating a sustainable mental health delivery system and ensuring citizens’ access to good mental healthcare.

He said that more attention should particularly be given to people’s mental health to reduce the rate of social vices in society.

“If the government can pay attention to mental health by providing sustainable and accessible mental health services, citizens will begin to enjoy optimal mental health well-being.

“Establishment of more mental health facilities, implementation of the Mental Health Act, subsidising drugs and integrating mental health services, among others, are necessary for promoting the good mental health status of Nigerians.

“These will invariably reduce the rate of social vices in the country to a great extent,” he submitted.