Author: Hafsat Salisu Kabara

OVER the last couple of weeks, I made researches, sent out questionnaires, did surveys and took notes on a topic I had wanted to write about for this column, but as it is often with me, procrastination got the better of me when it was time to do the actual writing and before I knew it, the weekend was here again, the publisher was on my neck to send my column for the week. Therefore, I preferred to wait a week or two to pen down my researched topic, and decided to write about the reason for this delayed piece,…

RECENTLY, a consultant Neuro-psychiatrist, Dr Jimoh Adejumo, said the economic hardship in the country has affected the mental health of hundreds of thousands of Nigeria. Adejumo, who works with the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba in Lagos, added that, factors such as inflation, poverty, child abuse, rape, broken homes and broken marriages, financial problems, traumatic experiences and degrees of violence among others are taking a toll on the mental health well-being of the citizens. It is difficult to argue with Dr Adejumo’s summation – in these trying times in the country, it is only apt to delineate these issues from the…

LAST week, space constraint limited my analysis on how vital our mental health is to our way of life. Today, let’s continue, its an under-statement to say, our mental health is an integral part of our lives and, as important as our physical health. The alarming rate of suicides in our societies today has made it paramount to discuss this issues openly and honestly. Lots of people think bringing an end to their lives is a solution to their problems, even the rich and famous have these thoughts and a common reason for that is DEPRESSION. Let’s talk about depression:…

I WAS initially reticent to write about this topic but on a second thought, I felt I should for the relevance of the topic to our society and especially for the patients of mental health issues. Let’s take a brief and broader look about mental health. Nigeria’s mental health policy was formulated in 1991, but it did not make adequate provision for community-based psychiatric care. Since there are only seven government-owned psychiatry facilities in Nigeria and these are always overwhelmed, there is the need to overhaul the existing policy and emphasise the urgency of a shift from inpatient psychiatric mental…

AS I sit and watch him talk a few days ago, it baffles me that this amazing old man will clock 87 in the next few days. He is still as smart, as observant, as alert as I remember with a keen analytical mind. Of course, age has its toll on him, but Baaba doesn’t act or look 87 one bit. A son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and a friend- a happy person and with a very big heart. Baaba’s blessings and teachings has been the bedrock of our success all of us – all 23 of us.…