Mental Health in Primary Healthcare Center aim to enhance medical personnel’s knowledge and skills in mental health care, ensure early identification and intervention or referral for mental illnesses, enable appropriate drug management for common mental disorders in government health centers, and improve primary health care by incorporating mental health services.
In Nigeria, the most prevalent healthcare facility near the people are the PHCs. However, for people living with a mental health condition, that is often not the case, as PHCs have not been designated as points of care for mental health service provision.
With the MEHPRIC project, we are changing that narrative.
In many areas, residents struggle with untreated mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma, often exacerbated by limited access to care that could previously be only obtained in secondary, tertiary, or private healthcare facilities. The impact on families and communities is profound, with mental health disorders leading to reduced productivity, increased poverty, and a cycle of neglect that further strains an already overstretched healthcare system.
MEHPRIC is changing this narrative by directly bringing comprehensive mental healthcare services to PHCs in Lagos, Nigeria. By training healthcare workers at the PHC level, telehealth services, community-based programs, and mental health education, we create sustainable mental service centers within the communities.
By leveraging our access in communities, we connect individuals in remote areas with our trained mental health professionals, ensuring that geography is no longer a barrier to receiving help. Additionally, we train local health workers and volunteers to deliver in-person support and create sustainable mental wellness programs within their communities.
The MEHPRIC has been implemented in Lagos state, with services available in 57 Flagship PHCs.
The service is available to anyone, irrespective of age. However, legal minors should come to the facility with a guardian.
• Virtual Counseling and Therapy via the LagosMiND Lifeline.
• Crisis Intervention Helpline available 24/7.
• Individual care at the PHC
• Screening for Mental Health Conditions
• Group Therapy Sessions
• Mental Health Awareness Campaigns
• Mental Health Workshops
• Capacity Building for Health Workers
• Suicide Prevention Training
• Mental Health First Aid
