The Rivers State Govern
ment has called on members of the civil society to end discriminations against persons with mental disabilities.
The State Commissioner for Youth Development, Sir Owene Wonodi, who said this in his address at this year’s International Youth Day (IYD) celebration in Port Harcourt, also said that over 20 percent of the youth population in the world are mentally disabled.
Wonodi said that researches have shown that people with mental disabilities also have abilities, and urged youth in the state to avoid those things that will make them mentally deranged.
“Youth with mental health condition often face stigma and prejudice, and this can cause such victims to isolate themselves from others as well as discourage them from seeking help for fear of being negatively labeled”, he said.
The commissioner said that the theme for this year’s celebration: “Youth and mental health” is “a challenge to us as a people, state and nation to take seriously the issue of mental health conditions as well as to curb the stigma often associated with the ailment so that youth with such conditions can live healthy and normal lives free from isolation and openly seek for the care and support they need without necessarily being introverts” he said.
Wonodi also said that the present administration has taken far reaching measures to ensure that Rivers youth are self-reliant.
He listed some of these measures to include, the establishment of Rivers State Micro-finance Agency and the various skills acquisition programmes embarked upon by the Ministry as well as the construction of model primary schools and health centres across the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Goodlife Nmekini warned the youth against being used to ferment trouble.
Nmenkini, who is also the special assistant to the governor on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), stressed the need for youth to be their brother’s keeper, no matter the level of provocation.
Highpoint of the event was the unveiling of the Ministry’s website and the presentation of awards to individuals and corporate bodies.
Ogbu Chinonye
