A popular Nollywood actress was reported to have expressed the opinion that mental illnesses
are more spiritual than physical in 2022. This comment by the popular Nollywood actress
triggered some controversy and debate about mental ill-health and what it is all about. The
attention and conversations are very welcome, and we will attempt to clarify some
misconceptions around it. Is it only those who smoke weed or take drugs that can suffer from
mental illness? Could it be that mental illnesses are caused by spiritual attacks? Are the popular
movie portrayals in Nollywood, which depict mental illnesses as conditions that can never be
treated in hospitals, and must be referred to spiritual (traditional or faith-based) healers correct?
Is there any role for spirituality in mental illness and recovery?
In reality, our thoughts, feelings, emotions and behavior are simply a function of certain
chemicals in our brains. Thus, when we feel happy or sad; when we think about a problem and
are able to arrive at a solution or make up our minds about what to do; when we want to
remember something and we think hard and suddenly remember it – we are simply using our
brains and certain chemicals are working hard to allow us perform these functions. Therefore,
when there are abnormal changes in the levels of these brain chemicals, it affects the thinking
processes, the feelings of happiness or sadness (emotions), memory, judgement and behavior of
the affected person.
Mental health challenges often arise from a change in the level of these brain chemicals and can
be correctly identified, and treated with the help of drugs that correct the level of the abnormality
and restore normal balance. Once this is restored, such individuals recover fully and can live
their normal lives. However, in some cases, they will also need to continue taking their drugs in
order to ensure that the levels of the affected chemicals remain normal on an ongoing basis. They
will also benefit from regular clinic attendance for follow-up reviews by the psychiatrist.
This is very similar to what happens in persons with diabetes for example. Persons with diabetes
are unable to tolerate or utilize glucose maximally because a chemical known as insulin is not
working well or the levels are not adequate. Thus, such persons usually would need to take
medications for the rest of their lives and change their diets in order to control the blood sugar. In
very severe cases, they may need to be receiving daily insulin injections in order to help their
body utilize glucose properly. This is in addition to going to clinic regularly for check-up and
checking their blood and urine sugar levels periodically.
Thus, mental health challenges are no different from those of other chronic medical conditions
such as diabetes or hypertension with respect to the fact that they are treatable with medications;
but with the requirements of regular clinic follow-up visits; and religiously taking their
medications as may be necessary. It is therefore, a misconception that such persons cannot
recover again or that they have spiritual problems without a medical solution.
Is this to say that there is no role for spirituality? No that is not the case. Indeed, having a belief
system may be supportive with coping with challenges and recovery, but it may also be a stressor
and trigger in some others. But the concern frequently is that when people talk about spirituality and having faith, it is usually bandied as a protective factor which shields one from mental health
challenges. So, if you genuinely have faith and are strong in your faith, you should not suffer
from a mental health challenge.
The flip side of that line of reasoning is that when someone with faith then suffers from a mental
health issue, they blame themselves for not being strong enough. And others in the congregation
may also view it as a weakness. Thus, it compounds the problem and worsens the secrecy, shame
and stigma associated with mental health challenges. Meanwhile, does having faith and being
spiritual mean that you can’t have diabetes? Or hypertension? Or be involved in a car accident?
So why is it only mental health problems that faith and spirituality should protect you from?
Even more worrisome is where people refuse to seek medical treatment for mental health issues
and prefer to seek only spiritual interventions. My appeal is that the two options should not be
mutually exclusive. If your faith and spirituality is very important to you and you think it is a
strong factor, then pray for recovery. But at the same time, please go for, and receive treatment
from mental health professionals. Just as we should have surgery for cancer if necessary, and we
will still pray for the success of the surgery. They can go hand in hand. That is a more balanced
approach to take for mental disorders too.
Dr Jibril Abdulmalik
Tribune Article for the column “Your Mental Health & You”
Thursday, 8th August 2024
Asido Foundation
www.asidofoundation.com
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