Dr Fikayo Benson led SANDEF the Sage and Enamel Foundation, SANDEF, to donate hospital beds and bedding to the mental health department of the State Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
While speaking at the event, Dr Fikayo Benson, the Executive Director of SANDEF, stated that the organisation aims to be Africa’s foremost mental health foundation catering specifically to people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
He outlined SANDEF’s three-phase approach to assisting individuals suffering from mental illness.
“Phase one involves subsidising hospital bills for our subjects every week. In phase two, we adopt a subject and take care of all their medical bills, which is already ongoing at the state hospital,” Benson explained.
He further elaborated on the third phase, which entails picking mentally ill individuals off the streets, checking them into a mental health hospital, covering their medical expenses, ensuring they receive treatment, and eventually reintegrating them into society.
During the donation event, SANDEF provided ten beds, ten mattresses, ten pillows, and ten bedsheets to the hospital, an initiative Benson described as a crucial step in expanding the capacity of the hospital’s mental health department.
“Today’s donation allows the hospital to admit more patients, which brings us closer to realising the third phase of our programme,” Benson added.
He also commended the Osun State Government for permitting SANDEF to operate within the State Hospital, emphasising the need for increased governmental attention to mental health issues.
“Everyone has some form of mental health challenge they are managing. It is a common misconception that only people on the streets suffer from mental illness. Our plea is for the government to prioritise mental health because the stories we encounter weekly are heartbreaking,” Benson urged.
Benson also recognised Adeniyi Adediran, an Ede-born, US-based IT expert, as a co-sponsor of the donation, acknowledging his partnership with SANDEF in making the initiative possible.
Dr Dare Rachael Folasade, Chief Consultant Psychiatrist at the State Hospital, Asubiaro, expressed her gratitude, highlighting SANDEF’s consistent support over the past year. She noted that the new beds would significantly improve the comfort of long-term patients in the ward.
“I never anticipated this level of support. Apart from assistance with medication, this donation will benefit many patients for years to come. It is a gift we deeply appreciate,” Dr Folasade stated.
She also conveyed her appreciation on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, applauding SANDEF’s efforts for making her work easier.
“The impact of their support is evident. Our patients now return with stable minds, and there has been a significant reduction in relapse rates.
Some patients remain symptom-free for months due to their interventions,” she revealed.
Dr Folasade further explained the complex factors contributing to mental illness, including social, economic, and genetic influences.
She pointed out that while genetic predisposition plays a role, social and economic factors are often more dangerous.
“Some individuals may carry the inherited gene for mental illness but never experience a breakdown if they have a good social environment.
However, in a toxic environment where finances are unstable and businesses fail, the likelihood of developing mental illness increases,” she explained.
She referenced comparative research studies conducted over the past decade, noting a rise in mental illness cases, which she attributed to growing awareness of available mental health services and worsening socio-economic conditions.
“The number of patients I see has increased. This can be linked to greater awareness of mental health services and societal issues such as economic struggles, family dynamics, and genetic predisposition,” Dr Folasade noted.
She also cited the rising use of substances as a key contributor to mental health disorders.
“Some people turn to substances for relief, not realising they are exacerbating their risk of mental illness. This, along with other factors, has led to an increase in cases,” she stated.
The donation event concluded with renewed calls for improved mental health policies, increased funding, and broader societal awareness to address the growing mental health crisis in Osun State and Nigeria at large.