A Consultant Psychiatrist with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, FCT, Doctor Tunde Ojo, has called on relevant stakeholders and institutions to address mental illness as they would address public health issues in the society.

Ojo made the appeal Sunday in Abuja, during an interview with the Nigerian News Agency (NAN).

He said it is very important that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) should be taken seriously and be high on Nigeria‘s awareness campaigns.

PTSD is a mental health problem that could develop after a person has been exposed to one or more traumatic events.

The doctor listed some traumatic events that can lead to PTSD, they include physical or sexual assault, war-related stress and experiences, terrorism, natural or man-made disasters, while others are the unexpected death of a loved one, accidents and also threats to a person’s life.

He said, “People should seek treatment from the right sources, and we should all work together to address the stigma associated with mental health issues”.

“This is the biggest barrier to accessing care for people living with this problem,” Ojo said.

Ojo added that one of the main protective factors against PTSD is mental resilience, saying it is the mind’s ability to withstand adversities such as trauma and many other stressful conditions.

Ojo said PTSD, if not properly taken care of can have a lasting consequence of traumatic experiences which can cause intense fear, sadness and feelings of helplessness or horror.

He revealed that the symptoms of PTSD vary because a person could be affected more if they generally felt stressed or when they encountered a specific reminder of what had happened.

“The goal of treatment for PTSD is to reduce emotional and physical symptoms, improve daily functions, and help the person better cope with the event that triggered the disorder.

According to him, “Treatment for PTSD can involve psychotherapeutic drugs, a specific type of counselling or both”.

Ojo, however, said various researchers are working daily to discover hidden factors causing PTSD and the best treatments methods to be used for patients.

He said, according to some studies, if early diagnosis and intervention is given to people with trauma, there will be a great reduction or even prevention of PTSD.

Ojo has, therefore, called on the general public to desist from the use of non-prescription drugs, as emotional or sleep problems are very common with PTSD.

He said “Many resorts to self-medication and the use of psychoactive substances such as alcohol, cigarettes and other recreational drugs.

“It only makes matters worse in the long run. So, the last word is to seek treatment early from the right source,” Ojo stressed.

The doctor added that it is very important to teach children positive life skills and to also create good and safe neighbourhoods for all kinds of people.

“These and many others have been documented to have a good impact on people’s mental health and reduce the risk of developing mental disorders later in life,” he concludes.

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