Mental Health
This
is a level of psychological wellbeing or absence of a mental disorder. This may
include any individual’s ability to enjoy life and create a balance between
life activities and efforts to achieve psychological residence or an expression
of emotions and as signifying a successful adaptation to a range of demands.
is a level of psychological wellbeing or absence of a mental disorder. This may
include any individual’s ability to enjoy life and create a balance between
life activities and efforts to achieve psychological residence or an expression
of emotions and as signifying a successful adaptation to a range of demands.
World Health Organization
World
health organization says mental health as a state of complete well-being in
which the individual realize his/her own abilities,
health organization says mental health as a state of complete well-being in
which the individual realize his/her own abilities,
o
Can
cope with the normal stress of life
Can
cope with the normal stress of life
o
Can
work productively and fruitfully.
Can
work productively and fruitfully.
o
Able
to make a contribution to his/her community.
Able
to make a contribution to his/her community.
Mental Hygiene
(Isaac
rays) says it is an art to preserve the mind against incidents and influences
which would inhibit or destroy its energy, quality or development.
rays) says it is an art to preserve the mind against incidents and influences
which would inhibit or destroy its energy, quality or development.
Community Experts Support
Traditional Belief:
Traditionally
mental illness is associated with supernatural agents as evil spirit sent by
gods, witchcraft, magic powers, or sin committed by the individual etc.
mental illness is associated with supernatural agents as evil spirit sent by
gods, witchcraft, magic powers, or sin committed by the individual etc.
So
the traditional healers are consulted for mental disorders by members of the
community or family members.
the traditional healers are consulted for mental disorders by members of the
community or family members.
They
are able to recognize some mental disorders particularly those relating to
psychosis, but however giving the total curative is the problem.
are able to recognize some mental disorders particularly those relating to
psychosis, but however giving the total curative is the problem.
Related Types of Mental Disorder
o
Alcohol
abuse
Alcohol
abuse
o
Bulimia
nervosa
Bulimia
nervosa
o
Crisis
assistance
Crisis
assistance
o
Depression
Depression
o
Anorexia
nervosa to mention, but a few.
Anorexia
nervosa to mention, but a few.
Some Traditional Healing Method
Traditional
method of care is the most common way of treating mental illness in various
communities today.
method of care is the most common way of treating mental illness in various
communities today.
It
is believed by most people that this mental illness occurs as a result of the
following:
is believed by most people that this mental illness occurs as a result of the
following:
o
Disobedience
committed to the gods (sin).
Disobedience
committed to the gods (sin).
o
Refusal
to perform some normal rituals to the gods.
Refusal
to perform some normal rituals to the gods.
o
Punishment
for sins, from their gods.
Punishment
for sins, from their gods.
o
Witchcraft
attack.
Witchcraft
attack.
o
Someone
getting possessed.
Someone
getting possessed.
o
Reward
for being a witch/wizard.
Reward
for being a witch/wizard.
o
Result
after confession of sin.
Result
after confession of sin.
Methods of the Cure
1.
Flogging
the patient with a cane every morning till the demon leaves him/her. The
patient will be tied to a tree where rain, sun, dust falls on him/her, when
time to eat comes they bring the food to him/her to eat. There may or may not
be batched.
Flogging
the patient with a cane every morning till the demon leaves him/her. The
patient will be tied to a tree where rain, sun, dust falls on him/her, when
time to eat comes they bring the food to him/her to eat. There may or may not
be batched.
2.
Chaining
of the patients leg to a wood at the end of the compound or opened house where
no other person stays and allowing little children to go there and sing to
him/her daily.
Chaining
of the patients leg to a wood at the end of the compound or opened house where
no other person stays and allowing little children to go there and sing to
him/her daily.
3.
Exposing
the patients to a full moon so that the evil spirit leaves him/her.
Exposing
the patients to a full moon so that the evil spirit leaves him/her.
4.
Locking
the patients in a lonely room without him/her seeing the sun of the day till he
becomes healed.
Locking
the patients in a lonely room without him/her seeing the sun of the day till he
becomes healed.
5.
Root
of some certain herbs, boil them, then add little quantity of ogogoro into them
mix together very well and one glass to be taken morning and evening.
Root
of some certain herbs, boil them, then add little quantity of ogogoro into them
mix together very well and one glass to be taken morning and evening.
6.
Grind
ginger together with alligator pepper mix it with palm-cannel oil.
Grind
ginger together with alligator pepper mix it with palm-cannel oil.
7.
Seed
of a plant that sedates the patients especially when he/she is suffering from
isomia.
Seed
of a plant that sedates the patients especially when he/she is suffering from
isomia.
8.
Portion
of the bible Psalm 13:1-6 will be read into a cup filled with water after
reading begin to make some chantiment on to the water too afterward you give
the patient to drink also sprinkle all over him/her.
Portion
of the bible Psalm 13:1-6 will be read into a cup filled with water after
reading begin to make some chantiment on to the water too afterward you give
the patient to drink also sprinkle all over him/her.
9.
Mentally
disorder ones are kept in the bush too and are being treated with all sorts of
plant. They only come out to the town once or twice a month to beg money and
they are always in a straight line singing as they move all over mostly in the
market.
Mentally
disorder ones are kept in the bush too and are being treated with all sorts of
plant. They only come out to the town once or twice a month to beg money and
they are always in a straight line singing as they move all over mostly in the
market.
Merit and Demerit
Some Merits
o
Materials
used are readily available i.e herbs easily gotten.
Materials
used are readily available i.e herbs easily gotten.
o
Cost
effective: It is cheaper than scientific treatment.
Cost
effective: It is cheaper than scientific treatment.
o
They
are easily accessible.
They
are easily accessible.
o
Reduces
disgrace of the individual.
Reduces
disgrace of the individual.
o
Helps
to avoid the use of chemo-therapy as a means of solving problems.
Helps
to avoid the use of chemo-therapy as a means of solving problems.
o
Helps
to have good personal hygiene.
Helps
to have good personal hygiene.
o
Makes
him/her not to be hostile.
Makes
him/her not to be hostile.
o
Reduces
stigmatization.
Reduces
stigmatization.
o
Adequate
rest and sleep due to the over dose of intake.
Adequate
rest and sleep due to the over dose of intake.
o
Gives
room for the members of the community to be treated in their own community.
Gives
room for the members of the community to be treated in their own community.
o
Make
the family members to associate with them and show love.
Make
the family members to associate with them and show love.
Some Demerit
o
Most
treatment may be over harsh to their skin or body system.
Most
treatment may be over harsh to their skin or body system.
o
No
accurate diagnosis.
No
accurate diagnosis.
o
Isolation
in most cases.
Isolation
in most cases.
o
Malnourished.
Malnourished.
o
Always
in depress state.
Always
in depress state.
o
Suicidal
attack due to over dosage
Suicidal
attack due to over dosage
Some Complications
o
Pneumonia
Pneumonia
o
Pressure
sore
Pressure
sore
o
Death
Death
o
Damage
to the brain.
Damage
to the brain.
