The international community celebrates May as Mental Health Month. Nigeria Based on Government Organization, Land of Hope has shared a post on their social media to commemorate the occasion. The founder of the NGO, Anja Ringgren Loven, shared that she cannot think of anything more important to talk about than mental health.
She observed that we are all affected by mental health issues one way or the other. Even though we are more educated today than 50 years ago, mental health awareness is seriously lacking in many countries. She observed that she had already shared a few stories about her mental health; this month, she promised to share more stories.
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However, Anja Ringgren Loven looked at Land of Hope’s work in Nigeria during mental health month. Accordingly, she reasoned that children with mental health conditions often experience severe human rights violations and discrimination. The communities accuse Children in Nigeria with mental health disorders of being witches. They believe that evil spirits possess these children.
Here, Anja took the opportunity to share the story of Solomon. She shared that when David Emmanuel Umem and I rescued Solomon 6 years ago, people said he was a mad person. He was dying when we found him. The picture speaks for itself. I cannot think of a more inhumane and horrible situation for a child.
Communities of people in Nigeria accuse the Children suffering from anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline, emotional disorders and other mental disorders of being witches. Accordingly, she observed that Mental health awareness is a neglected issue in Nigeria. She added that it leads to superstition, killing innocent children.
Nigeria enacted the mental health legislation for the first time in 1916. The government still needs to amend the law since. Accordingly, Anja Ringgren Loven stated that the government must reform outdated mental health laws. Solomon is strong and healthy. He has grown and developed into such a handsome young man. Solomon is so calm and polite. I don´t think I can remember a time when he has been in any trouble. He loves to read and to play football.
