Residents of Osogbo have raised alarm over the increasing number of mentally ill individuals roaming the streets, urging the government to take swift action to address the situation.
Speaking with journalists on Monday, concerned residents lamented the growing presence of these individuals on major roads, calling for immediate evacuation and rehabilitation.
Biola Awosun, a resident, suggested that some of the mentally unstable individuals were victims of their own actions. “Some of them ended up this way because of their nemesis,” he said. He attributed the prevalence of mental illness to drug abuse and involvement in diabolic activities.
Another resident, Adenike Faponda, a trader at Ejigbo Motor Park, alleged that some of the mentally ill individuals were brought in from other states. “The government needs to take them off the streets and place them in psychiatric homes where they can receive proper care,” she urged.
A psychologist, Andrew Dosunmu, identified drug abuse as the leading cause of mental illness among the affected individuals. According to him, the introduction of various psychotropic substances into society has worsened the situation.
“The most common form of mental illness here is caused by drug and substance abuse, often referred to as addiction,” Dosunmu said. “It is rampant among young people, particularly those between the ages of 16 and 45. This is the period when hard drug usage is at its peak.”
He emphasized the need for a collective effort to tackle the issue. “The government cannot do it alone. The responsibility of raising mentally stable individuals rests on society as a whole,” he added.
A nurse at Asubiaro Hospital, Dunmilola Akinola, acknowledged the government’s efforts in providing medical attention to mentally ill persons but called for stronger enforcement in evacuating them from the streets. “The state’s task force needs to do more to ensure they are properly taken care of,” she said.
Reacting to the concerns, the Osun State Government reassured residents that it was working to rehabilitate mentally unstable individuals. Richard Oyegbami, the Permanent Secretary at the Osun Ministry of Environment, said the government had a system in place to address the issue.
“The government is not just watching,” Oyegbami stated. “There is a designated place where mentally ill individuals are taken for rehabilitation.”
