P
PressRoom
Guest
The negative effects of the current economic recession that the nation is, has led to the growing cases of suicide among Nigerians. Investigations reveal that, recently, the number of psychiatric consultations and admissions have risen significantly.
Last week, the Nigeria Police Force during an interactive session in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, expressed worry over the rising cases of suicide among its officers across the country.
Findings by Vanguard also show that the deepening economic crisis is profoundly impacting adults, men, women, children, youth and infants alike with mental health challenges.
For instance, overall patient attendance at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatrist Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, went up 111 per cent while number of new patients increased 59 per cent within the first 11 months of 2016.
Also observed that between January and November 2016, patient attendance at the health institution totaled 53, 287 compared to 25,267 for the same period in 2015. More women than men appeared to be seeking help for psychiatric illnesses because during the period in question, the number of female patients increased 135 per cent from 13,730 to 32,261, compared to an increase of 82 per cent from 11,537 to 21,026, for male patients.
The number of new patients in the hospital increased from 2,531 to 4,031. Of the new patients, 2,001 were male representing 53 per cent increase over the 1,306 recorded last year, while 2,030 were female, a 66 per cent increase over the previous year.
In absolute figures, there was an overall 46 per cent increase in number of admissions in 2016 (867) compared to 594 in 2015, while the community clinic attendance went up from 1,793 to 3,510, a 95 per cent increase. Even children were not spared as there was a 144 per cent increase in the number of child/adolescent clinic attendance from 1,375 to 3,355.
This comprised a 141 percent increase of girls from 2,311 to 5,581, and 138 per cent increase for boys, from 936 to 2,226. Also, the number of follow up patients increased 74 percent from 19,889 (9,076 male and 10,813 female) to 34,536 (11,608 male and 22,928 female).
Last week, the Nigeria Police Force during an interactive session in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, expressed worry over the rising cases of suicide among its officers across the country.
Findings by Vanguard also show that the deepening economic crisis is profoundly impacting adults, men, women, children, youth and infants alike with mental health challenges.
For instance, overall patient attendance at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatrist Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, went up 111 per cent while number of new patients increased 59 per cent within the first 11 months of 2016.
Also observed that between January and November 2016, patient attendance at the health institution totaled 53, 287 compared to 25,267 for the same period in 2015. More women than men appeared to be seeking help for psychiatric illnesses because during the period in question, the number of female patients increased 135 per cent from 13,730 to 32,261, compared to an increase of 82 per cent from 11,537 to 21,026, for male patients.
The number of new patients in the hospital increased from 2,531 to 4,031. Of the new patients, 2,001 were male representing 53 per cent increase over the 1,306 recorded last year, while 2,030 were female, a 66 per cent increase over the previous year.
In absolute figures, there was an overall 46 per cent increase in number of admissions in 2016 (867) compared to 594 in 2015, while the community clinic attendance went up from 1,793 to 3,510, a 95 per cent increase. Even children were not spared as there was a 144 per cent increase in the number of child/adolescent clinic attendance from 1,375 to 3,355.
This comprised a 141 percent increase of girls from 2,311 to 5,581, and 138 per cent increase for boys, from 936 to 2,226. Also, the number of follow up patients increased 74 percent from 19,889 (9,076 male and 10,813 female) to 34,536 (11,608 male and 22,928 female).
