A popular Nigerian Mental Home, the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in the Yaba area of the country’s commercial hub, Lagos has seen a huge surge in admissions this year.
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental health hospitals or behavioral health hospitals, are hospitals or wards specialising in the treatment of severe mental disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, dissociative identity disorder, major depressive disorder, and others.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, revealed this during the hospital’s Annual Score Card presentation titled “A Day with the Medical Director” in Lagos.
Dr. Owoeye revealed that the overall number of new cases increased by 7%, with a 3% increase in the number of follow-up patients, both male and female.
The increase in admissions was ascribed to the country’s increasing frequency of mental health issues, compounded by present economic challenges and other socioeconomic reasons.
“In 2023, the total number of all patient attendances increased by 3%. In 2022, there was no rise in new cases attended, but there was a 7% increase in 2023.
“We also have a 100 percent increase in admission cases, with drug abuse cases showing a 10 percent increase, while discharge cases reduced by 10 percent.”
Dr. Owoeye emphasized the completion of the administrative building in Yaba as well as the restoration of internal roadways and drainages in the hospital’s Yaba and Oshodi annexes.
He also mentioned the refurbishment of hospital wards, Yaba and Oshodi annex, current construction work on the Tele-Psychiatric Centre and the upgrade of the physiotherapy department, and ongoing construction of the outpatient clinic.
Despite these accomplishments, the Chief Medical Director recognised insufficient manpower and finance as the hospital’s primary challenges in 2023.
The departure of health professionals in search of greater possibilities has impacted the hospital’s manpower, prompting the creation of a mechanism for their replacement as soon as possible.
Looking ahead to 2024, Dr. Owoeye pointed out the importance of prioritising staff welfare, increasing manpower development, and completing ongoing projects within the timeline.
He indicated a commitment to cautious resource management to address staff welfare and launch new projects in the coming year.
According to the World Health Organisation, at least one in eight people is affected by mental health issues. For a world population which is estimated at 8 billion, that shows an average of about a billion people with mental health issues.
