By Nasir Shuaibu, Bauchi
Bauchi State is set to pilot improved mental healthcare services in five secondary healthcare facilities as stakeholders seek to strengthen access to treatment and referral services across the state.
The decision was reached at a roundtable meeting on strengthening mental healthcare services organised by the Better Life Restoration Initiative (BERI) in partnership with Youth Adolescent Health Initiatives and Counseling (YAHIC) Thursday in Bauchi.
The initiative is being implemented under the ASPIRE project by Plan International Nigeria and funded by Global Affairs Canada.
The stakeholders also agreed to strengthen collaboration between the Bauchi State Hospital Management Board and the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) to train healthcare workers on mental health service delivery.
The move followed concerns over the growing burden of mental health problems, particularly among adolescents.
Presenting a paper at the meeting, psychiatrist Dr Musa Dahiru said one in every four adolescents in Bauchi State was affected by one form of mental health problem or another.
He said the prevalence underscored the need for greater investment in mental healthcare and improved capacity among health workers.
However, an assessment presented by YAHIC on mental health services at Bayara General Hospital and ATBUTH showed that the referral process between facilities remained informal and poorly coordinated.
Stakeholders said the absence of a formal referral pathway was affecting effective coordination of mental health services.
They therefore called for stronger collaboration among healthcare institutions and sustained government investment to ensure that patients, especially adolescents, receive appropriate mental healthcare without unnecessary delays.
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