Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Neurosciences, Drug and Alcohol Abuse on the University of Ibadan, Emeritus Professor Oye Gureje, has known as for pressing reforms in psychological healthcare, demanding shorter clinic ready instances, extra inexpensive medicines and remedy, improved hospital services and higher affected person involvement in remedy choices.
Gureje made the decision on the 2026 World Mental Health Day Symposium organised by the Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, with the theme, “Building Person-Centred Mental Health Services”.
In his opening handle as chairman of the event, he mentioned psychological well being companies have to be organised across the wants, dignity and preferences of sufferers reasonably than the comfort of healthcare suppliers.
He pressured that person-centred care required greater than diagnosing diseases and prescribing medicines, saying that it additionally concerned listening to sufferers, speaking with empathy, respecting their preferences and making certain that they participated meaningfully in choices about their remedy.
Gureje famous that psychological misery might have an effect on anybody, making it crucial for psychological well being companies to be accessible, responsive and compassionate.
Delivering a lecture titled “Building Person-Centred Mental Health Services”, a senior lecturer within the Department of Psychiatry, Dr Olatunde Ayinde, mentioned sufferers have to be handled as companions of their care, not passive recipients {of professional} choices.
He emphasised the precept of “nothing for us without us”, explaining that healthcare professionals ought to hearken to sufferers’ experiences, clarify accessible remedy choices and contain them in choices about their care.
Ayinde recognized insufficient funding, poor infrastructure, shortages of psychological well being professionals and the migration of expert personnel as main obstacles to delivering person-centred psychological healthcare.
He mentioned sufferers might disengage from remedy when companies failed to deal with the broader circumstances affecting their lives, together with household relationships, funds, housing, cultural beliefs and social assist.
According to him, efficient psychological healthcare should recognise these elements reasonably than focus solely on signs and diagnoses.
He known as on authorities, healthcare establishments, practitioners and repair customers to work collectively to enhance funding, strengthen affected person empowerment and shield the human rights of individuals residing with psychological well being circumstances.
The Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Professor Victor Lasebikan, additionally pressured the necessity to hearken to sufferers’ lived experiences and sort out the stigma related to psychological sickness.
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He mentioned the rising recognition of psychiatry in Nigeria, throughout Africa and internationally, significantly in youngster and adolescent psychological well being, ought to encourage higher affected person participation within the design and supply of psychological well being companies.
Lasebikan maintained that folks receiving psychological healthcare ought to have alternatives to specific their considerations and contribute to choices affecting their remedy and restoration.
The Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, represented by the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Sesan Oluwasola, known as for a extra compassionate and inclusive method to healthcare.
He mentioned sufferers ought to be recognised as folks with relationships, aspirations and particular person circumstances, reasonably than being outlined solely by their diagnoses.
Oluwasola reiterated that “there is no health without mental health”, stressing the necessity to enhance entry to companies, promote early intervention and supply ample assist for caregivers.
He mentioned psychological well being ought to obtain the identical degree of consideration as bodily well being, including that folks experiencing psychological well being circumstances mustn’t face discrimination in accessing care.
The Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Temidayo Ogundiran, known as for stronger relationships between docs and sufferers, noting that belief and efficient communication have been central to good healthcare outcomes.
He cited the shut rapport typically established between conventional natural practitioners and their shoppers for example of the significance of non-public relationships in healthcare.
Ogundiran mentioned the rules of person-centred care have been related past psychiatry and ought to be utilized throughout medical specialities, together with most cancers care, the place sufferers additionally wanted to be heard, revered and concerned in choices about their remedy.
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