Exploring the characteristics of callers of mental health emergency hotlines in Nigeria: a descriptive study
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Date
2023-12-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PAMJ Clinical Medicine
Abstract
Introduction: emergency hotlines increasingly
garner attention as a viable strategy to enhance
access to mental health services. Yet, there is a
dearth of research concerning their operations in
developing countries. This paper reviewed calls to
the
mental
health
emergency
hotlines
implemented in Nigeria from March 2022 to
September 2023. Methods: data were collected
through a structured Excel checklist, and
subsequently exported to a statistical package for
the social sciences for analysis. The analytical
approach is predominantly descriptive. Results: the
findings reveal that out of the 717 calls received,
512 were associated with mental health concerns.
Notably,
these
mental health-related calls
emanated from all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria,
especially from the South West zone, closely
followed by the South-South zone. Although the
majority of callers identified as male, in the North
East and North Central regions, there were more
female callers. Across all zones, a consistent
pattern emerged, with the majority of callers
falling within the age bracket of 18 to 27 years.
Additionally, there was a significant representation
of unemployed individuals among the callers. The
primary reason for these calls was a pressing need
for urgent mental health services, particularly in
response to issues such as depression, anxiety, and
suicide. Notably, there was an evident uptick in call
volume from July to September. The North West
and South West zones displayed a predilection for
making most of their calls between 12 - 6 pm.
Conclusion: understanding the nuances in these
call patterns can serve as a valuable foundation for
tailoring targeted mental health interventions to
address the specific needs of various geographic
zones and demographic groups.
Description
Keywords
Mental illness, mental health emergency hotlines, geopolitical zones, calls
Citation
Mba-Oduwusi N, Odii A, Adeniyi TS, Ahmed M, Ogbolu RE, Tade T, Buhari OI, Shettima FB, Unaogu NN, Sodimu KA, Akala B. Exploring the characteristics of callers of mental health emergency hotlines in Nigeria: a descriptive study. PAMJ Clinical Medicine. 2024 Mar 14;14(27).