Impact of traditional healers in the provision of mental health services in Nigeria

Mental health remains one of the most overlooked issues in Nigeria. The burden posed by traditional healers in the provision of mental health services is becoming a public health concern in the country. This article presents a review of the present situation on the mental health service provision in Nigeria by traditional healers and highlights way forward actions for policy makers, government, and other stakeholders. These include the need for a policy direction on the need for establishing an improved system of psychiatric and mental health services in hospitals that will drive cultural acceptability, accessibility, and affordability. Further, there is a need for policy measures to be in place towards creating long term directions and sustainability of documentations of traditional healer's activities, harmful avoidance and improved mental health services in primary health centers. The fact that traditional healers are indispensable in provision of mental health services, call for collaborative effort to improve services such as behavioral change, capacity building and referral practice that could save more lives and reduce severity of complications.