Abuja: A mental health expert, Prof. Taiwo Obindo, has urged Nigerians to prioritize early detection, public awareness, and timely medical intervention to prevent psychosis. He identified stigma and inadequate mental health services as major barriers to effective care and improved treatment outcomes. Psychosis is a condition in which a person loses contact with reality and may experience symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Obindo, a former President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, although many mental health conditions have no definitive cure, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can prevent psychosis from worsening and significantly improve patients’ quality of life. Obindo said psychosis often occurred when there was an imbalance in neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals responsible for transmitting information between nerve cells. ‘These chemicals must have balance in the brain, and if that balance is tilted for whatever reason, it may lead to an individual developing psychosis. The hormones must remain balanced or risk instability,’ he said.
The psychiatrist added that psychosis could also be triggered by overwhelming emotions, persistent fear, grandiose thinking, and mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. He emphasized the importance of recognizing symptoms early, noting that proper diagnosis was essential for determining the most effective treatment approach. ‘You cannot know the means of approach without identifying the symptoms of the illness, which is most important for proper diagnosis,’ he said.
Obindo urged parents, relatives, friends, and caregivers to monitor individuals at risk and seek professional guidance when behavioral changes or warning signs are observed. ‘Observation must be firmly put into the process. Parents, family, and friends must speak out and approach experts for directives,’ he said. He said professional assessment helped to ensure accurate diagnosis and prevent reliance on speculation, superstition, and misinformation.
According to him, timely evaluation by qualified mental health professionals is critical to effective treatment and recovery. ‘The person will need to first be assessed. We have psychiatric nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists who can assess and treat the symptoms as it should be,’ he said. Obindo described public awareness as a key preventive tool, lamenting that many people remained ignorant of psychosis and often wrongly labeled affected individuals as ‘mad.’
He said that genetic factors could increase susceptibility to psychosis in some individuals, making early intervention and monitoring particularly important. According to him, prompt medical attention, including the use of appropriate medications where necessary, can help manage symptoms and prevent deterioration. He said antipsychotic medications might be required when symptoms became pronounced, while sedatives might be used in some cases to reduce agitation and promote calmness under medical supervision.
The expert also emphasized the need to retain and strengthen the mental health workforce to support prevention, treatment, and long-term management of mental health conditions. He urged communities, peers, and social workers to create supportive environments free from stigma and discrimination while working closely with families to support affected individuals. Obindo further called on the Federal Government to establish more mental health facilities across the country and equip them adequately to improve access to care and strengthen mental health services nationwide.