The National Mental Health Act 2021 and Rights of Persons with Mental Illness in Nigeria

Abstract

The Mental Health Act 2021 in Nigeria marks a pivotal development in the country's efforts to address the complex challenges surrounding mental health care. This article provided a comprehensive appraisal of the Act, focusing on its challenges and prospect and comparing with the international standard set for mental healthcare. Using the doctrinal research, it offers valuable insights into the current state of mental health governance in Nigeria which is complemented by analytical and comparative research to provide a comprehensive understanding of legal phenomena. Our findings showed that there are crucial provisions of the Act that safeguard the rights of persons with mental illness and enhanced their access to mental health services. These provisions of the Act aligned with international standards. But the Act faces challenges like the effective implementation of the Mental Health Act 2021. Amongst these challenges are inadequate funding, shortage of trained mental health professionals, infrastructure deficiencies, stigma, and cultural barriers to seeking help. Despite these challenges, the Act presents promising prospects for improving mental health care in Nigeria. It provides a legal framework for protecting the rights of individuals with mental illness, promoting community-based care, and integrating mental health services into the broader healthcare system. The research recommendations include increasing funding for mental health services, strengthening the mental health workforce, enhancing infrastructure, combating stigma, fostering multi-sectoral collaboration, and conducting ongoing evaluation and research amongst others.