Why are we still in 1958? The Lunacy Act
In 1958, the Lunacy Act was provided as the mental health legislation instituted by the British colonizers in Nigeria. This was 2 years before Nigeria gained its independence. Hence, the law has been in existence for 61 years. Before the Lunacy Act, Nigeria had a well-established system of taking care if people with mental illness; through traditional practices. For instance, once you notice that someone or a loved one is exhibiting symptoms of mental illness, the person is taken to a traditional healer. The patients spend months and sometimes years in the care of these healers and truth be told, some of them never get better. This system wasn't/isn't the best, but what's the British colonizers offer in return (Lunacy Act of 1958) wasn't better.
This Lunacy act defines mental illness as lunacy; and according to this law, 'lunatic' includes idiots and persons with unsound mind.
But our traditional approach also defines mental illness have always been referred to as mad, foolish, lazy, possessed.
These approaches have failed humans and unfortunately, following a sub-standard document, people have been suffering because of poor definition and poor political will to care for them.
Up till now, for 61 years, mental illness is still described with derogatory, discriminatory and stigmatised conditions.
We had a deliberation on this across Nigeria today, discussed the gaps and what best can be done to improve the structural determinants of adequate care of mental health in Nigeria.
1. Increase opportunity for psychiatry training (professionals and institutions)
2. Provide universal health coverage with inclusion of budget for mental health
3. Reading books from primary, secondary and tertiary education, one would wonder why there is no curriculum in the schools that have information on mental health.
4. Properly provided mental health bill.
5. Awareness and Advocacy amongst others.
Mental health is just like any other illness and you need to fake care of you, as it determines a whole lot about one's life.