The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH) in Kaduna, Nigeria, has introduced telepsychiatric services to improve mental health care for patients. This move comes as the hospital reports that substance abuse-related disorders account for nearly half of the cases it treats. According to Professor Aishatu Yusha'u Arimaya'u, the Chief Medical Director, the hospital has seen a significant rise in substance abuse cases, prompting the need for innovative solutions.
To address the unique needs of patients with acute substance-use disorders, the hospital has established a specialized toxicology ward. This ward was designed to provide a safe and secure environment for patients, as those experiencing acute cravings can become aggressive and attempt to escape. The toxicology ward was renovated in 2022 and has a distinct design that makes it difficult for patients to escape.
The hospital's current capacity is 52 patients, who can receive treatment and stabilization for up to one month. After completing this phase, patients are encouraged to consent to admission into the Drug Abuse Treatment, Education and Rehabilitation (DATER) ward. The DATER program is a four-month structured program with a current capacity of 42 patients.
The hospital's addiction-treatment services involve a multidisciplinary team of addiction specialists, doctors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers working together as a therapeutic community. This approach ensures that patients receive comprehensive care and support. The hospital has also collaborated with Kaduna State agencies to extend mental health services to primary healthcare facilities.
As part of its efforts to promote mental health awareness and prevention, the hospital has trained personnel from 19 general hospitals in Kaduna State under the Mental Health Gap Action Programme. This training was later extended to 23 centers of excellence, which began implementation in August. These centers have already attended to 1,075 patients, with females accounting for about 75 percent of the cases.
The hospital is also working to rehabilitate additional wards to increase its capacity for psychiatric and substance-abuse treatment. The planned rehabilitation of 54-bed and 44-bed wards aims to strengthen the hospital's service delivery and improve access to mental health care. The hospital's initiatives focus on providing specialized care while bringing mental health services closer to communities.
The hospital's efforts are in line with international diagnostic classifications that recognize substance-use disorder as a condition requiring mental health intervention. By leveraging technology and community-based approaches, the hospital aims to promote mental health awareness, prevention, and destigmatization while reducing pressure on limited inpatient facilities.
Key points
- The hospital has introduced telepsychiatric services to address mental health challenges.
- Substance abuse-related disorders account for nearly half of the cases treated at the hospital.
- The hospital has established a specialized toxicology ward to address the unique needs of patients with acute substance-use disorders.
