Academic literature on the topic 'Mental health in Nigeria'

Mental health professionals (MHPs) play a pivotal role in enhancing treatment outcomes for drug-using populations and minimizing their harm to the public. In response to a gap in the literature, this study sought to (a) assess MHPs' attitudes about the use and abuse of substances and their perception of their role in tackling substance abuse and related disorders in Nigeria, (b) identify predictors of perception, and (c) explore regional variations in attitude. Based on the validated drug and drug users' problems perception questionnaire and the substance abuse attitude survey, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in a randomized sample of 292 MHPs practicing in neuropsychiatric hospitals and in the mental health departments of teaching hospitals from 4 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. A response rate of 81.1% was achieved. MHPs' attitude about substance use tended towards the non-permissive, stereotypical, and moralistic spectrum, and its role perception was distinctly defined. Educational attainment (O.R = 0.50, p = 0.030), work-motivation (O.R = 0.55, p < 0.0001), and role-support (O.R = 1.48, p < 0.0001) significantly predicted MHPs' role perception. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there were significant regional variations in the attitudes of multidisciplinary MHPs, H (3) 18.727, p < 0.0001. Step-down follow up analysis revealed that the distribution of attitude total score vary significantly between the south-southern and southwestern region (p< 0.001), the northeastern and southeastern region of the country (p < 0.028). To foster the rehabilitation of this population and its reintegration into mainstream society, a holistic approach toward the standardization of drug treatment is needed. It should take into account the cultural, religious, and ethnic differences predominating in different regions.

Nigerians are an integral part of the nursing profession, yet there is no literature on their common health risks, such as homesickness, isolation and suicide ideation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between lack of acculturation, social support, and self-esteem and mental health among Nigerian nursing students. Berry's model of acculturation was used which identifies individuals perception of self in relation to their ethnic culture and the host culture. A sample of 76 Nigerian nursing students enrolled in Baccalaureate nursing programs from 3 universities in the District of Columbia and Maryland participated in the study. Data were obtained using an online survey of 69 items assessing their acculturation, social support, self-esteem and their mental health. A descriptive cross sectional design was used. Analysis of the data included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and ANOVA. The final regression model revealed that acculturation, companionship construct of social support and self-esteem are predictors of mental health status as shown by the adjusted R squared (R2 = 0.638). Recommendations are for universities to commit to increasing acculturation, social support, and self-esteem among foreign students in an effort to decrease isolation and improve their mental health. It is also recommended that future studies should be conducted on social isolation of subcultures to improve acculturation and reduce incidence of low self-esteem among foreign students within the American society. The strategies would create positive social change for healthcare organizations and nurse educators, resulting in an increase of ethnic diverse nurses and reducing the shortage of nurses in the USA.

<p> HIV has remained a public health problem in Nigeria. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the effect of social support and HIV-related stigma on depression in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and to examine the moderating effect of sociodemographic factors, Quality of Life (QOL), and time since HIV diagnosis on this relationship. This study was based on the social cognitive theory. Data were collected from 98 PLWHA attending the antiretroviral clinic of Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Nigeria. Regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between the variables. Some 24.5% of the study participants were depressed. Significant relationships identified included negative relationships between depression and social support, positive relationships between depression and negative self-image, and a combination of poor social support and HIV-related stigma having synergic effects in predicting depression. Sociodemographic variables, quality of life, and time since HIV diagnosis did not have a moderating effect on the relationship between social support, HIV-related stigma, and depression in PLWHA. There is a need to improve social support and reduce HIV-related stigma in PLWHA in order to improve their mental health. These findings can help in bringing about positive social change by informing the development of public health initiatives aimed at improving the mental health of PLWHA.</p>

This research sets out to assess if the PHC system in rural Nigeria is effective by testing the research hypothesis: 'PHC can be effective if and only if the Health Care Delivery System matches the attitudes and expectations of the Community'. The field surveys to accomplish this task were carried out in IBO, YORUBA, and HAUSA rural communities. A variety of techniques have been used as Research Methodology and these include questionnaires, interviews and personal observations of events in the rural community. This thesis embraces three main parts. Part I traces the socio-cultural aspects of PHC in rural Nigeria, describes PHC management activities in Nigeria and the practical problems inherent in the system. Part II describes various theoretical and practical research techniques used for the study and concentrates on the field work programme, data analysis and the research hypothesis-testing. Part III focusses on general strategies to improve PHC system in Nigeria to make it more effective. The research contributions to knowledge and the summary of main conclusions of the study are highlighted in this part also. Based on testing and exploring the research hypothesis as stated above, some conclusions have been arrived at, which suggested that PHC in rural Nigeria is ineffective as revealed in people's low opinions of the system and dissatisfaction with PHC services. Many people had expressed the view that they could not obtain health care services in time, at a cost they could afford and in a manner acceptable to them. Following the conclusions, some alternative ways to implement PHC programmes in rural Nigeria have been put forward to improve and make the Nigerian PHC system more effective.

This thesis explores mental health literacy (MHL) and mental health difficulties in at-risk populations. Young people, particularly males, are vulnerable to the onset of mental health difficulties, failing to access support and increased risk of suicide. Supporting people with mental health difficulties and improving prognosis is an important area of public health concern. Chapter one is a systematic review of gender differences in MHL of young people (ages 12-25 years). 14 studies were identified and critically assessed. The nature of gender differences in MHL of young people is complex but most consistently reported in depression. Females tended to have higher levels of MHL than males. The implications for public health interventions and future research are discussed. Methodological components of MHL research, such as the use of case vignettes are also considered. Chapter two is a qualitative research study of male professional footballers’ lived experiences of mental health difficulties and help-seeking using interpretative phenomenological analysis. One superordinate theme emerged from the data; Survival. This is discussed through six subordinate themes and alongside existing literature pertaining to identity, transition, personality and emotional development. The clinical implications of the findings are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research. Chapter three is a reflective paper considering the use of Cognitive Analytic Therapy as a tool for reflexivity in qualitative research. The opportunities and limitations of this approach are considered, alongside reflections on the research process.

This study explores the subjective wellbeing and subjective experience of mental health problems in UK mental health nurses using a mixed methods approach. It aimed to understand the relationships between mental health nurses' own mental health and their subjective wellbeing, and to explore the ways in which mental health nurses managed their own mental health and wellbeing and how they negotiated for and use their experiences both within and outside of their work. The mixed methods design had two phases. In phase one an online survey was sent to mental health nurses via their national professional bodies, the Royal College of Nursing and the Mental Health Nurses Association. The survey comprised three measures of subjective wellbeing, questions about personal and familial mental health history and questions about the impact of these experiences on mental health nursing work. 237 survey responses were included in the final statistical analysis. In the second phase 27 semi structured interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of survey respondents who had both subjective experience of mental health problems and high subjective wellbeing. A major finding of the study was that mental health nurses critically appraised their experience of delivering and receiving mental health care from the expert perspectives of both being a nurse and having their own experience of mental ill health. Personal experience of mental illness was found to influence nursing practice in a number of ways: first, through overt disclosure and negotiation of professional boundaries; second, through the ‘use of the self as a tool’, the emotional labour of nursing; third, through the formation and development of professional nursing identity. This was in the context of a broader canvas of life experiences which participants considered to influence the development of their nursing identity, the use of self and self disclosure in their work. Mental health nurses in this study had a relatively low subjective wellbeing. Low subjective wellbeing was associated with having current mental health problems, and with having past experience of mental health problem. Personal experience of living with someone with mental health problems was associated with relatively higher subjective wellbeing. This study has implications for occupational health and human resources policy within healthcare organisations. The findings suggest that mental health nurses who present to primary care or occupational health services should be offered care and treatment commensurate with their expertise and experience. Employers’ ‘staff happiness strategies’ and occupational health promotion activities should address work life balance and what nurses could do outside of their work to be well, as well as addressing the effects that team and management changes have on staff wellbeing.