Lagos: The Nigerian American Institute for Mental Health underscores the pivotal role families play in managing schizophrenia effectively, acting as a primary support system and significantly influencing treatment outcomes. Dr. Azubuike Aliche, Secretary of the institute, highlighted this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on World Schizophrenia Day 2025, observed globally on May 24.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme for 2025, ‘Rethink the Label: Reclaim the Story,’ serves as a crucial reminder that labelling individuals with mental illness fosters stigma and obstructs access to necessary help and treatment. Dr. Aliche emphasized the importance of sharing the real-life experiences of those affected by mental illness to cultivate understanding and compassion. He stated that families provide essential practical, emotional, and treatment-related support, which can significantly enhance both the individual’s recovery and the overall well-being of the family unit.
Dr. Aliche elaborated that family members who assist with medication management, offer encouragement, and help reduce relapse rates contribute to better health outcomes. He described schizophrenia as a chronic mental disorder that disrupts thought processes, perceptions, and emotional responses, with symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and negative symptoms such as reduced emotional expression and social withdrawal.
He further estimated the prevalence of schizophrenia in Nigeria at about 0.4 percent, equating to approximately 1.86 million people living with the condition. On comparing schizophrenia with bipolar disorder, Dr. Aliche clarified that both are psychiatric illnesses but differ significantly in core symptoms and manifestations, with schizophrenia primarily characterized by psychosis, while bipolar disorder involves mood swings between mania and depression.
Dr. Aliche expressed concern over the insufficient research funding for schizophrenia compared to physical illnesses like heart disease or cancer, despite the substantial body of evidence available to guide treatment. He noted that effective management of schizophrenia in Nigeria is hindered by widespread beliefs in supernatural causes of mental illness, leading families to seek help from traditional healing centers or prayer houses, where patients may face human rights abuses.
He called for the development of national policies directly addressing schizophrenia and other mental health conditions and advocated for more platforms for people living with schizophrenia to share their stories, aiding society in better understanding and supporting them.