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Developing mental health services in Nigeria

The impact of a community-based mental health awareness programme

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology volume 43, pages 552–558 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

This grass-roots level mental health awareness programme considerably increased use of community-based mental health services in a part of Nigeria where knowledge about treatability of mental illness was limited. The benefits of the programme were sustained for a significant period after the initial awareness programme. In order for attitude changes to be reinforced, similar awareness programmes must be repeated at regular intervals.

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Acknowledgments

The Amaudo Itumbauzo Mental Health Awareness Programme was funded by Comic Relief (a UK-based charitable funding body) as a 3 year project. It was run in partnership with the governments of Abia, Imo, and Ebonyi States. We are grateful to the participating Community Psychiatric Nurses, Village Health Workers and Amaudo and government staff.

Declaration of interest

None.

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Affiliations

  1. CBM National Co-ordination Office, P.O. Box 8451, Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria

    Julian Eaton MRCPsych

  2. Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

    Ahamefula O. Agomoh FWACP

Authors
  1. Julian Eaton MRCPsych
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  2. Ahamefula O. Agomoh FWACP
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Correspondence to Julian Eaton MRCPsych.

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Eaton, J., Agomoh, A.O. Developing mental health services in Nigeria. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 43, 552–558 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0321-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0321-5

Keywords

  • community mental health services
  • health education
  • health promotion
  • Africa
  • Nigeria