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Dr Daniel Ajogbon, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja, on Tuesday urged government at all levels to raise more awareness and mobilise efforts to support mental health issues.
The medical doctor, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of this year’s “World Mental Health Day” in Lokoja, tasked government to do more in creating awareness about mental health, especially prevention and treatment.
He added that governments at all levels should improve salaries and wages, strengthen workers, and encourage them to participate in decision making processes.
Ajogbon also urged management of organisations to provide adequate facility for workers to work with, and government should ensure that mental health care facility were available in their domain for easy access.
He enjoined private employers to also key in to this initiative by implementing the above mentioned.
“I think non, irregular and poor payment of salaries is a major cause of mental health conditions in Nigeria.
“Inadequate facility to work with, unsuitable task for competencies, inadequate safety policies, poor communication, bullying and harassment and limited participation in decision making, are also part of the causes.
“Our workplace experience can be improved to promote mental health and wellbeing by reducing work related mental health risk factors.
“Promote work environment, strengthen workers and address mental health problems regardless of the cause,” the expert said.
He added that mental health problems could be managed by consulting mental health care professionals in the health care facilities.
The medical practitioner, however, urged workers to avoid stress and burnout, and engage only in jobs they have skills to cope with.
NAN reports that the World Mental Health Day is marked annually on Oct. 10, aimed to raise awareness about mental health issues around the world and mobilise efforts to support mental health.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Mental Health in the workplace”, looking at how our workplace experience can be improved to promote mental health and wellbeing.
Globally, more than 300 million people suffer from depression, and 260 million suffer from anxiety disorders, many of whom live with both conditions.
A study by the WHO found that such disorders cost the global economy one trillion dollars in lost productivity each year.
(NAN)
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