By Godwin Egba - special correspondent, Port Harcout
Governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Nimi Walson-Jack, has pledged to implement an education policy that is focused on improving the learning environment, form of teaching and the content of curriculum to enhance academic excellence among young people to meet with global standards.
To further boost the wellbeing of young people, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirant has advocated increased investment in mental healthcare management, saying such investment should be directed at restructuring and updating the facilities of mental health centers, to enable increased access to mental healthcare services, train and re-train personnel that care for the mentally challenged.
Giving an insight into the economic conditions and challenges young people are daily faced with, the aspirant noted that nearly one fifth of the global population is comprised of youth aged 14-24 years, with 85-90 per cent of this group living in low-income countries.
“This is understandable, as it said that young people are at greater risk of mental-health conditions as they transition from childhood to adulthood,” he added.
“Mental health issues are complex interplay of many factors. Genetics or psychological and social factors such as traumatic life events contribute to the prevalent state of mental illnesses among the young. Youth who are homeless, uneducated or unemployed, street urchins, orphaned, juvenile delinquents and those involved in substance abused are at particular risk of mental-health conditions. The accumulation of these and other risk factors, particularly in Nigeria, contribute to the increased likelihood of impairment and disability among our young population,” Walson-Jack remarked.
“Due to high degree of stigmatization, embarrassment and lack of basic knowledge about healthcare, mentally challenged youth in our communities are denied the benefits of the available mental health services.
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