MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA: URGENCY, PRIORITIES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Background: The presence of very few or absence of strong advocacy movements in much of the world, including Niger Delta region of Nigeria, with few research interests, contributes to the persistence of appalling conditions for people with mental disorders.

Aims: The objectives of the present paper are to describe the distribution of mental health services in South-South Nigeria, to identify the barriers to good mental health advocacy and to emphasize Mental Health Advocacy, as an important means of raising awareness on Mental Health issues, towards achieving certain expected outcomes.

Methods: The study setting was the South South region of Nigeria and using qualitative research technique, multiple semi-structured interviews (20), were conducted with leaders in health and mental health in the region cutting across churches, rehabilitation centers, University teaching hospitals, National Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with a view to exploring key stakeholder perceptions on the challenges and opportunities of the region’s mental health system and advocacy.

Results: Investigation revealed 16 centers where Mental Health care can be assessed. Only one Mental Health advocacy group (AFMHA) was identified contrary to what obtains in other medical conditions with stigma and advocacy emerged in the analysis, as a prominent, cross-cutting theme across participants during interview and were top in the agenda of the barriers to Mental Health Care in the region.

Conclusion: There is urgent need for increased mental health advocacy efforts, which at the moment is inadequate. The situation of Advocacy, therefore calls for well thought strategies and priorities, in order to halt the indifference, ensure improvements in policy, legislation, better service development and delivery for the mentally ill, in order to ensure that Mental Health is on the national agenda of governments.