By Fasilat Lawal

The founder Of a Non-Governmental Organisation, Asido Foundation, Dr Jibril Abdul Malik says people should stop discriminating, neglecting and Stigmatizing people with mental illness.


Dr Abdul Malik made the call during a street sensitization campaign Organized by the Asido Foundation held at the University of Ibadan’s first gate.

Dr Abdul Malik who is an Associate professor at the Department of Psychiatry, University Of Ibadan decried the rate at which people with mental illness suffer bullying, physical abuse, sexual abuse and roam the street in society noting that the illness could be curable and not supernatural as belief.

“ In some cases, supernatural beliefs lead individuals to seek traditional or faith-based healing, and they may end in a situation where they experience physical abuse starvation and sexual abuse”

Dr Abdul Malik said Mental Health was a Universal Health right regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion and socioeconomic status which should not be denied.

 “many are deprived of their liberties, withdrawn from school, lose their jobs, marriages or assets and are denied opportunities to actualize their potentials”

“Mental illness could happen to anyone and Dementia could occur when they grow old he said Dr AbdulMalik said Asido Foundation,  a non-profit Organization was dedicated to improving mental health and had impacted positively in lives of some persons with mental illness for them to be productive in the society, urged all stakeholders to collaborate with governments in reshaping the narrative around mental health.

“I want to call on the media, educational institutions, religious leaders, community figures, and more, to join hands to sensitize the public “he added.

The Founder Of Asido Foundation appealed to employers of labour not to Stigmatize people who were cured of mental illness, but to encourage and support them.

On her part, President Medical Women Association Of Nigeria Oyo State Chapter, Dr Oyindamola Adeyemi, enjoined mothers to be with their children, mentor and interact with them to enable them to speak up to address cases of bullying, harassment, depression and sexual abuse.

“as a mother we need to play a major role, be a model and  a mentor to our  children we need to be very close to them from when they are babies, let them be our friends, they will tell us what happened, you know mental health starts from schools when they are been bully or a teacher is terrorizing them and can’t say and they become depressed as well, when you pick them at school right in the car you should interact or at home with them, ask them what happens in school and as the child grow up he or she becomes confident  “

Mental Health Coordinator, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Mrs Funmilayo Abodunrin who said tackling mental illness should be a collective effort by all, advised people to visit health centres for diagnosis and medications.

“the economic situation could lead to depression when they can’t make ends meet “.
“People should help those that have mental health issues people should speak out  when they detect any signs and avoid committing suicide “

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