ARCHIVES
VOL. 10, ISSUE 1 (2024)
A comparative study of mental health legislations in two African countries – South Africa and Nigeria
Authors
Augustine U Amadasun
Abstract
Mental health
legislation is imperative because people with mental disabilities suffer a wide
range of deprivations in the society – especially in developing countries. This
paper x-rays the various past and present legislations governing the provision
of mental health care services in two African countries – South Africa and
Nigeria. It presents the deficiencies in the various legislations. The paper
states that the various legislations are hitherto tailored according to the
dictates of their colonial masters. Comparatively, the discourse asserts that
while South Africa has more often reformed its mental health legislations,
Nigeria has been lacking in that regard. The paper concludes that mental health
legislation is essential, first because of the unique vulnerabilities of people
with mental illness, and secondly, people with mental illness face stigma,
discrimination and marginalization in most societies. The paper therefore
recommends that mental health legislation should be viewed as a process rather than
as an event that occurs just once in many decades and that African countries
should constantly reform their mental health legislations to meet international
standards.
Download
Pages:206-210
How to cite this article:
Augustine U Amadasun "A comparative study of mental health legislations in two African countries – South Africa and Nigeria". International Journal of Law, Vol 10, Issue 1, 2024, Pages 206-210
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.