National Mental Health Policy And The Challenges Of Individuals Living With Mental Illness In Nigeria

• Rotimi Adeforiti

  Department of Political Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

  Author

• Ojo Idowu Akinwumi

  Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

  Author

• Oludare O. Mosunmola

  Department of Political Science, Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo

  Author

The study explains the challenges of the National Mental Health policy in addressing the issues of individuals with mental illness in Nigeria. Dynamic Stigma Theory, developed by Gyamfi (2024), serves as the theoretical framework, and applies that stigma is evolving and dynamic, learned and can be unlearned if there is a will, etc. The study adopted an integrative review as a method of data collection, and a total of eleven (11) published articles in peer-reviewed journals between 2004 and 2025 were selected based on methodology, findings, and relevance to the subject matter of the study. The factors sustaining issues against individuals with mental illness are thematically listed to include detection, causes, treatment, problem confronting post-treated person, and awareness creation on mental illness in the country. The study concluded that addressing issues with MIPs should include healthcare treatment for them. The study recommended that mental illness examination should form a mandatory check that will be carried out routinely on an individual, and it should be enacted in the National Health Insurance Scheme to make it accessible to everyone. 

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