P. Ajike, Esther Abimbola Ariyo, A. M. Ariyo, Kikelomo Adubi
{"title":"Emerging Adults’ Awareness and Perceptions of Mental Health Problems and Services in Nigeria","authors":"P. Ajike, Esther Abimbola Ariyo, A. M. Ariyo, Kikelomo Adubi","doi":"10.1177/23727322211068028","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Despite the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Nigerian youths, mental health care access and usage in this population is extremely low. This review examines emerging adults’ awareness and perceptions of mental health problems and services in Nigeria. Specifically, we (1) provide background information about mental health perception, services, and challenges in Nigeria; (2) describe the current state of mental health among emerging adult population in Nigeria; (3) discuss risk factors among emerging adults in Nigeria; (4) document emerging adults’ perception of mental health problems and services in Nigeria, and potential explanations for this trend. We conclude with a discussion of practices and policies. In a nation like Nigeria, where mental health services are scarce and health gaps and disparities abound, the value of mental health awareness and realistic health policies cannot be overstated.","PeriodicalId":52185,"journal":{"name":"Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences","volume":"9 1","pages":"44 - 48"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4000,"publicationDate":"2022-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/23727322211068028","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Nigerian youths, mental health care access and usage in this population is extremely low. This review examines emerging adults’ awareness and perceptions of mental health problems and services in Nigeria. Specifically, we (1) provide background information about mental health perception, services, and challenges in Nigeria; (2) describe the current state of mental health among emerging adult population in Nigeria; (3) discuss risk factors among emerging adults in Nigeria; (4) document emerging adults’ perception of mental health problems and services in Nigeria, and potential explanations for this trend. We conclude with a discussion of practices and policies. In a nation like Nigeria, where mental health services are scarce and health gaps and disparities abound, the value of mental health awareness and realistic health policies cannot be overstated.