The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has introduced a mandatory mental health screening policy for patients with severe illnesses, following a tragic suicide case that occurred within the hospital, former Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Akin Osibogun, has disclosed.
Speaking at the Mental Health Summit 3.0, organised by Vanguard Media Limited, Osibogun said the new policy was developed to identify and support patients at risk of depression or suicidal behaviour before such situations escalate.
He explained that the initiative stemmed from the hospital’s experience with a patient who died by suicide while receiving treatment at the facility.
“We decided that every patient coming in with serious or severe illness must be screened. It’s the first time we have done this, and it has helped us identify those at risk so that we can intervene before it’s too late,” Osibogun said.
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According to him, the incident revealed the need for Nigerian healthcare institutions to integrate mental health care into general medical practice, especially for patients facing prolonged or life-threatening conditions.
To deepen understanding of the link between chronic illness and depression, Osibogun said LUTH has launched a research initiative called Project Suffering, aimed at exploring how long-term physical ailments contribute to suicidal tendencies.
“It is not only the use and abuse of drugs that cause suicide. These issues are real and must be addressed with the seriousness they deserve,” he added.
He called on mental health experts, policymakers, and the public to adopt a broader approach to suicide prevention, one that recognises the complex interplay of psychological and socioeconomic pressures in driving individuals to despair.
Commending Vanguard Media for sustaining national dialogue through its annual Mental Health Summit, Osibogun described the platform as “a catalyst for public awareness and collective action.”
“We decided that every patient coming in with serious or severe illness must be screened. It’s the first time we have done this, and it has helped us identify those at risk so that we can intervene before it’s too late,” he said.
The CMD further urged federal and state health authorities to prioritise mental health screening and counselling as part of routine hospital care across Nigeria, noting that early intervention remains key to reducing suicide rates nationwide.
