World Mental Health Day: private mental hospital administers free screening

The Retreat Healthcare, an Ikorodu, Lagos-based Nigerian purpose built private mental hospital, will hold a mental awareness and free mental health screening on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 10: am to mark the World Mental Health Day which is always celebrated on that same day worldwide.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Mental Health Day is marked with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.

“The day thus provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide,” said Olufemi Oluwatayo, The Retreat CEO.

Oluwatayo added that in line with the WHO objectives, The Retreat through the mental awareness exercise and free screening aims to add value to mental services in Nigeria across board including education and raising awareness about mental issues in Nigeria.

The World Mental Health Day for this year is themed ‘Mental Health at the Work Place’.
According to the Chief, many employers and organisations do not see issues of mental health at the workplace as a priority; hence, many employees may be suffering in silence.

“We therefore feel that this is an opportunity to help screen people for common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression and advice on treatment pathways if necessary”.
“We are offering a free screening services; skilled Doctors will be on call both on the phone and at the Retreat campus in Ikorodu to offer confidential help”, Oluwatayo said.
The Retreat’s highly skilled psychiatrists, mental health nurses, therapist assistants, occupational therapist and a top clinical psychologist will be available to provide dignified care in a therapeutic and serene environment at The Retreat campus in Ikorodu, Lagos.

The Retreat Healthcare is a world class in-patient and out-patient facility that provides dignified care for mentally disordered people in Nigeria through therapeutic recovery treatments.
It is the first purpose built privately owned mental health facility in Nigeria, built solely to cater for the therapeutic treatment and recovery of patients.

Anthonia Obokoh