Abuja: Nigerian experts in psychiatry, neurosurgery, and child neurology are urging urgent reforms as suicide and traumatic brain injury devastate the nation’s youth and cripple its workforce. During a webinar on Wednesday by the Child Neurology Society of Nigeria, experts warned that suicide and brain trauma are silent epidemics threatening Nigeria’s development and youth.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Prof. Taiwo Lateef, Professor at ABU and Africa Lead for Lifeline International, highlighted the misunderstanding of suicide in Nigeria, with 450,000 Nigerians needing yearly psychosocial support from related trauma. He emphasized that Nigeria records approximately 15,000 suicide deaths annually, a figure likely under-reported due to stigma and the criminalization of suicide. Lateef called for decriminalization, increased mental health investment, and compassionate media reporting to address stigma and promote hope.
Prof. Edwin Eseigbe, President of the Child Neurology Society of Nigeria, identified adolescence as a critical period for brain development, marked by vulnerability and opportunity. He noted that adolescents are biologically inclined towards risky behavior and poor decision-making, exacerbated by the lack of mental health services. Eseigbe emphasized the need for a whole-of-society approach, engaging various stakeholders to support adolescents during this essential phase.
Prof. Jude-Kennedy Emejulu, Professor of Neurosurgery, described Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a neglected public health crisis, with over 6,733 cases recorded in Nigeria in 2023 alone. He cited the high costs of treatment and the financial burden on families, calling for improved emergency preparedness and healthcare coverage to alleviate these challenges.
The experts made a strong joint call for the decriminalization of suicide and the enactment of national suicide prevention legislation to reduce stigma and encourage timely help-seeking. They advocated for increased funding for adolescent mental health services and the expansion of the National Health Insurance Authority to cover brain imaging, neurosurgical care, and long-term rehabilitation. Additionally, they urged the government to enhance road safety policies and emergency response infrastructure to mitigate trauma-related brain injuries.
Ethical and compassionate media reporting was highlighted as a crucial step in reducing stigma and promoting hope, alongside the importance of parent and community engagement in supporting adolescents and addressing the stigma associated with mental illness and suicide.
