Foundation Warns Against Rise In Mental Illnesses

The director, Amudo Integrated Community Mental Health Foundation, Itumbuzor, Abia State, the Very Rev Kenneth Nwaubani has warned against the rise in cases of mental illness in the society.

Nwaubani gave the warning yesterday while speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, the state capital, calling for “sustained collaborative efforts against the development.”

The minister with the Methodist Church Nigeria further expressed worry that “the cases may continue to increase if stakeholders fail to rise up to the challenge immediately.”

He regretted that the youths are the most affected segment of the society attributing it to harsh economic condition, environmental and peer group influences.

Nwaubani, who harped on the need for proper education and awareness on mental health, added that the foundation has picked 25 mentally-ill persons from the streets this year alone.

According to him, recently 60 inmates were undergoing rehabilitation at the foundation out of which 17 had been discharged and reunited with their families.

The director, therefore, advised families that have mentally-ill members to take them to the foundation instead of abandoning and allowing them to roam the streets.