The National Human Rights Commission has urged the federal government to take further progressive steps to give effect to the National Mental Health Act (2023) in order to enhance mental health in Nigeria.
According to the human rights commission, Mental Health Rights are Human Rights as the theme of this year’s Global Mental Health Day reinforces.
Consequently, the commission noted that besides right to healthcare, other mental health rights include- right to dignity of the human person, and freedom from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; right to non discrimination and right to life among others.
Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, made this known in a statement to commemorate the 2023 World Mental Health Day.
The commission called for humane treatment of Persons with Mental Health Conditions, psycho-social or cognitive disabilities, saying they also ought to be beneficiaries of Right to Dignity of the Human Person.
“In alliance with other Mental Health advocates, the Commission was at the forefront of advocacy for legislative intervention in the area of mental health in Nigeria.
“This culminated in the Presidential Assent in January 2023, to the Mental Health Bill earlier passed into law by the National Assembly in 2021.The National Mental Health Act therefore represents a commitment of government to progressively realize right to health pursuant to its obligation under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Remarkably, the Act reaffirms Mental Health as a Human Right” he said.
He added “this is symbolic having been eloquently re echoed in the theme for 2023 World Mental Health Day which is “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right’.
He explained that in addition to legislative intervention, social advocacy is crucial. Supported by Civil Society Organizations, relevant government Institutions (Ministry of Information and National Orientation Agency) should be in the fore-front to advance enlightenment regarding mental health and to dispel myths, superstition, ignorance and misconceptions about Mental illness in order to create a climate of understanding and acceptance so that people with psychosocial, cognitive- disabilities or substance abuse problems are meaningfully integrated in families and society; protected from stigma, discrimination, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment such as beating, flogging, chaining among other abusive conduct to which those affected with mental health condition are subjected.
“It is also critical for government to urgently scale up measures to address economic and social conditions that affect mental well being of persons in Nigeria so that Nigerians and people in Nigeria will have the appropriate mental health balance to contend with life” Ojukwu added.
