Charles Nwankwo, Abakaliki
Renowned Psychiatrist, Dr. David Nweke who is the head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State in this exclusive interview with The Nigerian Xpress gave an insight into the causes of the high increase of mental illness particularly among youths in society.
Sir, can you tell us what mental illness is all about?
Mental illness is a kind of ill-health that deals with the brain in terms of behaviour, conduct actions and reactions of individuals. It is different from physical ill-health like a headache. Most times, one cannot detect mental illness by looking or by any special examination but through the behaviour of the person, actions and inactions of the person which leads the individual to behave abnormally in one way or the other as evident in involvement in crime or difficulty in interpersonal relationship, actual living and other aspects of life.
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What is responsible for the high prevalence of mental illness in society?
Mental illness in society remained constant at each point in time. Sometimes you find out there is an increased case of a particular episode of mental illness in mental health because of particular reasons. The prevalence of mental illness among youth and adult remains the same. The high increase is related to the use of drugs or what is called psychoactive substances.
The abuse of substances is responsible for the increase in mental illnesses among youths and adults in Nigeria. If 20 patients are with mental illness, 10 of them will be drug-related. The substances are many, very common and easily available in society. They include cannabis, otherwise called Indian hemp, mkpurummiri, tramadol and alcohol. Many who have become addicted to substances cannot perform their daily activities without taking them.
Someone who is addicted feels like he is dying the next second if he doesn’t use the drug and when he tastes it, he normalizes. Societal expectations and high demand on the young ones are also a reason for the increase in mental illnesses. For instance, if a student graduates from school and there is no job, the stress of not having a job could impact negatively leading to the consumption of substances such as drugs or alcohol.
He or she may think that consuming substances is a way to escape from the stress of joblessness, but unfortunately, they are piling up their problems. The substances they consume result in conditions such as psychosis, unconsciousness, suicide, murder and other related crimes. The consumption of psychoactive substances has negative efforts on society, family, individuals, economically, socially and otherwise.
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Illnesses and genetic load can also trigger mental conditions. If someone whose parents or forefathers had suffered mental illness takes hard drugs or alcohol, it may wake up the sleeping lion and the person will start having mental problems. The influence of peer groups is another dangerous factor because bad friends can lure you into drug addiction.
How would someone who has a genetic load prevent developing a mental illness?
When you have a genetic load, it does not mean you are going to have a mental illness. Some conditions trigger off mental illness, If you have latency or genetic load and you keep off drugs, keep off alcohol, live a normal life, avoid too much stress and do not involve yourself in anything that will warrant triggering off the illness, you will be safe. The genetic load may trigger mental illness when the person is associated with hard drugs or is involved in trauma or horrible relationships and such.
What could be done to reduce the high prevalence of mental illness in society?
Government should enact and enforce laws prohibiting the production and sales of harmful drugs and alcohol. It is disturbing that some of the law enforcement agents whose responsibility is to prohibit people from taking hard drugs are also consumers. Government should provide jobs because an idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Government should use the policy against drugs to have a positive influence on society. Individuals should also be responsible to ensure that people are discouraged from taking such destructive drugs. Landlords should not accept such people as their tenants.
Is mental illness infectious?
No, I have to clear this misconception about mental illness in the mind of the people, Mental illness is not transmissive. It is not a virus, not bacteria or fungal but it is genetic. While it may run in families, it is not, however, a serial inheritance. The gene is recessive, not a dominant gene. The stress of life can trigger mental illness. Even infections such as COVID, HIV/AIDS, and cerebral malarial can actually cause it because the brain carries all things.
Can mental illness be completely cured?
Mental illness can be cured if appropriate treatment and medication are given to the patient in the hospital early enough, not when it becomes worse.
