President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed into law the Mental Health Bill harmonised by both Houses of Assembly in 2021.
Gatekeepers News reports that this is coming decades after the mental health regulatory reforms have languished in the legislative chambers with failed attempts at overhaul in 2003 and 2013.
The signing is the 1st Mental Health Act/ Law post Independence and will also replace the Lunacy Act of 1958.
In 2019, the mental health legislation advanced, with the Senate passing it for second reading and holding public hearings in 2020.
On the 28th of November, 2022, the National Assembly passed the National Mental Health Bill, 2021, and forwarded it to President Buhari for consideration and assent last week, according to a memorandum by the Clerk to the National Assembly.
The President of the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria, APN, Prof Taiwo Obindo, while confirming the signing described it as a great relief.
Obindo said, “A final culmination to over two decades of several efforts by the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria now has an Act/Law on Mental Health governance and we are now part of the global space with best global practice.”
The immediate past President of APN, Prof Taiwo Shielk further expressed gratitude to God Almighty that the Mental Health Bill has been signed into law by the President.
Shielk said, “Our profound gratitude to Senator Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Senator Ahmad Abubakar, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari (COS), CBM International, Johnson & Johnson, and all our partners. After several attempts, by His Grace, we finally reached the milestone.
“We pray that The Lord will reward all those who contributed to the success of this project.”
A psychiatrist said the law will help replace the Lunacy Act of 1958, which practitioners condemn as outdated and inhumane.
Some provisions of the National Mental Health Bill include creating a Department of Mental Health Services in the Federal Ministry of Health and a Mental Health Fund.
The law will help to establish human rights protections for those with mental health conditions, such as banning discrimination in housing, employment, medical, and other social services.
It will further improve care by guaranteeing those receiving treatments have the right to participate in formulating their medical plans and eliminating forced treatment, seclusion, and other methods of restraint in facilities, additionally, expanding community-based coverage.
In addition, the law will address the way and manner mentally ill populations are to be catered for without stigma or discrimination and also form global best practices in enshrining the human right of the mentally ill, how care can be accessed, and outlawing chaining or other forms of coercion.
The law, among other benefits, will help in making access to care for the mentally ill easier and ensuring that the human rights of the mentally ill are enforced.
It will also help in regulating the activities of mental health practitioners, eliminates stigma and discrimination, and generally address the issue of funding for mental health care in Nigeria.
