Browsing by Author "Lasebikan, V. O."

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Community study of knowledge of and attitude to mental illness in Nigeria
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2005) Gureje, O.; Lasebikan, V. O.; Ephraim-Oluwanuga, O.; Olley, B. O.; Kola, L.
Background: The improvement of community tolerance of people with Mental illness is important for their integration. Little is known about the knowledge of and attitude to mental illness in sub-Saharan Africa. Aims: To determine the knowledge and attitudes of a representative community sample in Nigeria. Method: A multistage, clustered sample of household respondents was studied in three states in the Yoruba-speaking parts of Nigeria (representing 22% of the national population). A total of 2040 individuals participated (response rate 74.2%). Results: Poor knowledge of causation was common. Negative views of mental illness were wide spread, with as many as 96.5% (s.d. =0.5) believing that people with mental illness are dangerous because of their violent behaviour. Most would not tolerate even basic social contacts with a mentally ill person: 82.7% (s.e.=1.3) would be afraid to have a conversation with a mentally ill person and only16.9% (s.e.=0.9) would consider marrying one. Socio-demographic predictors of both poor knowledge and intolerant attitude were generally very few. Conclusions: There is widespread stigmatisation of mental illness in the Nigerian community. Negative attitudes to mental illness may be fuelled by notions of causation that suggest that affected people are in some way responsible for their illness, and by fear.
Optimal mental health for achieving health security in Nigeria: a strategic blueprint
(College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, 2019) Ojagbemi, A. A.; Abdulmalik, J. O.; Lasebikan, V. O.; Oladeji, B. D.; Makanjuola, V. A.; Esan, O. B.; Bella - Awusah, T. T.; Adeniyi, Y. P.; Gureje, O.; Omigbodun, O.O.
Objectives: Optimal mental health refers to ‘a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make contributions to his or her own community’. As such, the catchphrase ‘No health without mental health’ is not just a slogan but an acknowledgement of the importance of mental health in the drive to improve overall wellbeing and productive participation in community and economic activities. Methods: We combined an overview of current literature with opinions of key experts from different sub specialties of mental health practice and present an analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) to optimal mental health as a strategy to attaining health security in Nigeria by 2050. We also offered recommendations for feasible strategies to optimize mental health. Results: There is poor mental health coverage in Nigeria, with over 80% of persons coping with mental health problems remaining untreated in their lifetime. Also, only about 3% of the National health budget is allocated to mental health and this is mostly focused on large psychiatric institutions to the exclusion of primary health care (PHC) services. Conclusions: In recognition of the critical role of optimal mental health to global development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has mental health firmly covered in its third goal, ‘Health and Well-being’. The SDGs further envision a better world in which, in tandem with the WHO definition of health, “physical, mental and social wellbeing are assured”. Thus, the identification and implementation of strategies to promote optimal mental health for all Nigerians is vital for ensuring health security and national development.