In the eye of the storm: the domestic and sexual violence epidemic amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria

The global pandemic of the coronavirus has resulted in a disruption in life as we know it, with massive effects on tourism, the healthcare system, and the global economy at large. Many countries, initiated measures to curtail the spread of the virus with non-pharmaceutical interventions such as lockdown, quarantine, social distancing, and movement restrictions. These measures while preventing the spread of the virus may have triggered another pandemic, albeit a silent one. This article reviews the burden of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence in Nigeria highlighting the factors that may have interplayed with the lockdown to worsen the situation in Nigeria. This article also focuses on measures to strengthen medical, legal, and supportive responses to survivors

Psychoactive Substance Use Among Psychiatric Outpatients In a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Background: Psychiatric and substance-use disorders are serious problems for the individuals who have them as well as the society as a whole. There is dearth of studies enumerating the estimates of psychoactive drug use among psychiatric outpatients in Nigeria.Aim: This study aimed at determining lifetime and current use prevalence of psychoactive substance among psychiatric outpatients.Methods: Subjects from the psychiatric clinic of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex were consecutively recruited for the study. Information on sociodemographic variables and drug use was obtained and data was subject to descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: Data from 130 subjects were analysed. The mean age was 39.95 years and 53.8% of subjects were males. Life time and current use prevalence of any substance were 45.4% and 22.3% respectively. Concerning specific psychoactive substance, Stimulant (26.9%) was highest in lifetime use while alcohol (13.1%) was highest in current use among respondents. Patients with Schizophrenia had the highest lifetime rate of any substance (15.4%) while patients with seizure, dementia and other disorders had the lowest rate (2.3%).Conclusion: Stimulants and alcohol were the substances more likely to be used by the mentally ill irrespective of their diagnostic category. These observations underscore the need to further study the important relationship between these psychoactive substances and these psychiatric disorders.Keywords: Psychoactive substance , psychiatry , outpatient

Global child and adolescent mental health perspectives from Donald J Cohen Fellows: bringing change locally, while thinking globally

Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) are a global priority. Different countries across the globe face unique challenges in CAMH services that are specific to them. However, there are multiple issues that are also similar across countries. These issues have been presented in this commentary from the lens of early career CAMH professionals who are alumni of the Donald J Cohen Fellowship program of the IACAPAP. We also present recommendations that can be implemented locally, namely, how promoting mental health and development of children and adolescents can result in better awareness and interventions, the need to improve quality of care and access to care, use of technology to advance research and practices in CAMH, and how investing in research can secure and support CAMH professionals and benefit children and adolescents across the globe. As we continue to navigate significant uncertainty due to dynamic circumstances globally, bolstering collaborations by “bringing change locally, while thinking globally” are invaluable to advancing global CAMH research, clinical service provision, and advancement of the field