Mental health distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: Need for psychological intervention
Background: The world began to realise the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in January 2020, and since then the number of people infected has exceeded 1 million globally. In less than 1 month following the first reported case in Nigeria, over 180 people had tested positive to the di...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2022-01-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1550 |
| _version_ | 1818013436157624320 |
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| author | Frances Adiukwu Margaret Ojeahere Olufisayo Adesokun Gbonjubola Babalola |
| author_facet | Frances Adiukwu Margaret Ojeahere Olufisayo Adesokun Gbonjubola Babalola |
| author_sort | Frances Adiukwu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The world began to realise the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in January 2020, and since then the number of people infected has exceeded 1 million globally. In less than 1 month following the first reported case in Nigeria, over 180 people had tested positive to the disease. Studies have shown that such rapidly spreading infectious diseases have the potential to create widespread fear, apprehension, panic and anxiety amongst the general public.
Aim: This study aimed at evaluating the impact of information dissemination and public mental healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. It also hopes to determine if there is an unmet need for telepsychiatry in Nigeria.
Setting: Community-based study covering the North, South and West of Nigeria.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using an on-line survey form via the snowballing sampling method.
Results: Social media was identified as the main source of information concerning COVID-19, and half of the respondents opined that information dissemination was inadequate. Psychological distress was present in 90.5% of the participants and 61.8% admitted that this distress was worsened by fake news and myths concerning COVID-19. However, 53.8% of the participants were willing to access mental healthcare services, with telepsychiatry being the preferred choice.
Conclusion: There is a need to implement a national public mental health service during this emergency. Telepsychiatry has numerous advantages in this context and maybe an opportunity to roll out a novel means of delivering mental healthcare. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:33:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fff8274cecf94cd9a5757d30369aacec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1608-9685 2078-6786 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:33:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-fff8274cecf94cd9a5757d30369aacec2022-12-22T02:07:34ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry1608-96852078-67862022-01-01280e1e610.4102/sajpsychiatry.v28i0.1550575Mental health distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: Need for psychological interventionFrances Adiukwu0Margaret Ojeahere1Olufisayo Adesokun2Gbonjubola Babalola3Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port HarcourtDepartment of Psychiatry, Jos University Teaching Hospital, JosDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port HarcourtTranquil and Quest Behavioural Health, LagosBackground: The world began to realise the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in January 2020, and since then the number of people infected has exceeded 1 million globally. In less than 1 month following the first reported case in Nigeria, over 180 people had tested positive to the disease. Studies have shown that such rapidly spreading infectious diseases have the potential to create widespread fear, apprehension, panic and anxiety amongst the general public. Aim: This study aimed at evaluating the impact of information dissemination and public mental healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. It also hopes to determine if there is an unmet need for telepsychiatry in Nigeria. Setting: Community-based study covering the North, South and West of Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using an on-line survey form via the snowballing sampling method. Results: Social media was identified as the main source of information concerning COVID-19, and half of the respondents opined that information dissemination was inadequate. Psychological distress was present in 90.5% of the participants and 61.8% admitted that this distress was worsened by fake news and myths concerning COVID-19. However, 53.8% of the participants were willing to access mental healthcare services, with telepsychiatry being the preferred choice. Conclusion: There is a need to implement a national public mental health service during this emergency. Telepsychiatry has numerous advantages in this context and maybe an opportunity to roll out a novel means of delivering mental healthcare.https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1550sars-cov-2psychological distressnigeriaworrymental health needs |
| spellingShingle | Frances Adiukwu Margaret Ojeahere Olufisayo Adesokun Gbonjubola Babalola Mental health distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: Need for psychological intervention South African Journal of Psychiatry sars-cov-2 psychological distress nigeria worry mental health needs |
| title | Mental health distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: Need for psychological intervention |
| title_full | Mental health distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: Need for psychological intervention |
| title_fullStr | Mental health distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: Need for psychological intervention |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: Need for psychological intervention |
| title_short | Mental health distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: Need for psychological intervention |
| title_sort | mental health distress during the covid 19 pandemic in nigeria need for psychological intervention |
| topic | sars-cov-2 psychological distress nigeria worry mental health needs |
| url | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1550 |
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