Mental Illness is not a Spiritual illness- Expert reveals

A psychiatrist consultant and Head of Department Behavioural and Mental Health, Federal University Teaching Hospital Lafia, Dr. Paul Agbo, has called on people to avoid mixing mental illness and spiritual illness.

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He made the called during a symposium to commemorate the 2024, World Mental Health Day held in Lafia, the state capital.

Dr. Paul Agbo said, mental health issues is the most serious phenomenon affecting majority of citizens in many aspects and people have to learn how to take care of their health.

“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 metal issues that were said to be spiritually attacked where given medication and the got healed”.

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

He advised that people should avoid anything that will make them un-happy, a toxic work place, sleeping well, avoid taking substances and having a hobby to make for general safety among others.

The psychiatric consultant emphasised that many cases of mental health issues were recorded as a result of negligence of the affected person from family members and friends, hence the needs to take proactive measures to tackle the menace.

He therefore, appealed to governments, relevant stakeholders, donor agencies, as well as individuals to contribute their quota to curtail of rising cases of the mental illness cases among public to be safe and healthy society.

The theme: Prioritising Mental Health in the Work Place.