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 referred to as for pressing reforms in psychological healthcare, demanding shorter clinic ready instances, extra reasonably priced medicines and remedy, improved hospital services and higher affected person involvement in remedy selections.
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 providers should be organised across the wants, dignity and preferences of sufferers slightly than the comfort of healthcare suppliers.
He burdened 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 guaranteeing that they participated meaningfully in selections about their remedy.
Gureje famous that psychological misery might have an effect on anybody, making it crucial for psychological well being providers 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 should be handled as companions of their care, not passive recipients {of professional} selections.
He emphasised the precept of “nothing for us without us”, explaining that healthcare professionals ought to hearken to sufferers’ experiences, clarify obtainable remedy choices and contain them in selections about their care.
Ayinde recognized insufficient funding, poor infrastructure, shortages of psychological well being professionals and the migration of expert personnel as main limitations to delivering person-centred psychological healthcare.
He mentioned sufferers might disengage from remedy when providers 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 components slightly than focus solely on signs and diagnoses.
He referred to as on authorities, healthcare establishments, practitioners and repair customers to work collectively to enhance funding, strengthen affected person empowerment and defend the human rights of individuals residing with psychological well being circumstances.
The Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Professor Victor Lasebikan, additionally burdened the necessity to hearken to sufferers’ lived experiences and deal with the stigma related to psychological sickness.
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He mentioned the rising recognition of psychiatry in Nigeria, throughout Africa and internationally, notably in youngster and adolescent psychological well being, ought to encourage higher affected person participation within the design and supply of psychological well being providers.
Lasebikan maintained that folks receiving psychological healthcare ought to have alternatives to precise their issues and contribute to selections 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, referred to as for a extra compassionate and inclusive strategy to healthcare.
He mentioned sufferers needs to be recognised as folks with relationships, aspirations and particular person circumstances, slightly than being outlined solely by their diagnoses.
Oluwasola reiterated that “there is no health without mental health”, stressing the necessity to enhance entry to providers, promote early intervention and supply ample assist for caregivers.
He mentioned psychological well being ought to obtain the identical stage 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, referred to as for stronger relationships between medical doctors and sufferers, noting that belief and efficient communication had been central to good healthcare outcomes.
He cited the shut rapport typically established between conventional natural practitioners and their purchasers for instance of the significance of non-public relationships in healthcare.
Ogundiran mentioned the ideas of person-centred care had been related past psychiatry and needs to be utilized throughout medical specialities, together with most cancers care, the place sufferers additionally wanted to be heard, revered and concerned in selections about their remedy.
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