Mental health illnesses not spiritual – Psychiatrist

Dr Paul Agbo, a Consultant Psychiatrist and Head, Department of Behavioral and Mental Health, Federal University Lafia Teaching Hospital (FULTH), has advised Nigerian’s to desist from attributing mental illness to spiritual attack.

Agbo gave the advice at a symposium organised by the department in commemoration of the 2024 World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on Wednesday in Lafia.

“As doctors and mental health practitioners, we are scientists and from my practice, I have treated victims who had attributed the caused of their problems to the spirit.

“The results I have gotten in my practice, all those with mental health challenges, which were said to be spiritual attack, were given medication and they got well.

“I will categorically state that mental illness has nothing to do with the spirits in the context of what causes it,” he added.

The consultant, however, explained that spirituality had a role to play in the healing process of all illnesses including mental health.

On the theme of the 2024 WMHD – Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace, Agbo urged employers of labour to make the work environment conducive in order to get the best from the employees.

He explained that to much workload, poor welfare, lack of respect, unfavorable working environment among others were capable of making the workplace toxic and trigger mental issues for the worker.

He noted that people were already facing a lot of hardship in the country that was capable of causing mental health challenges.

He, therefore, advised that people should focus less on the prevailing challenges in the country and give attention to those things that would make them happy.

“We should always try to avoid people that constantly talk about the negative happenings capable of make us unhappy and downcast,” he said

The consultant psychiatrist further called on people to avoid substance abuse giving its long time effect on mental health.