Psychiatric Institutions and the Emerging Institutional Scene in Nigeria

Abstract

This study is a review of literature pertaining to inadequate impact of orthodox psychiatric institutions and services in Nigeria. It was aimed at (i) profiling factors impeding growth and use of orthodox psychiatric institutions, and (ii) to report the emerging institutions providing psychiatric services in Nigeria. The method employed was the ex-post facto research which enabled content analysis technique through a critical review of documents and materials related to Nigerian orthodox psychiatric institutions and services. The findings shows that (i) cultural conditions (traditional beliefs and myths, lifestyle, perception and discrimination, stigma, movements) and (ii) systemic factors (lack of funding, dearth of orthodox mental health practitioners, law and policies) are militating factors against robust orthodox psychiatric institutions and services. It was also found that unorthodox psychiatric institutions and services are built and rendered everywhere in emerging religious Pentecostal organizations and government approved but privately owned traditional psychiatric homes. Finally, it was concluded that orthodox psychiatric institutions and services are faced with difficulties due to systemic factors and deeply rooted traditional beliefs in the efficacy, lower cost and omnipresence of unorthodox psychiatric institutions and its practitioners .Therefore, it was recommended, among others, that government should pass into law, the mental health bill, taking into cognizance the potency and acceptability of these emerging institutional scenes.

Keywords: Nigeria, Orthodox psychiatric services, systemic neglect,
emergent psychiatric institutions.