Emeritus Professor Oye Gureje, who directs the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Neurosciences, Drug and Alcohol Abuse at the University of Ibadan, is advocating for immediate reforms in mental healthcare. He is calling for reduced clinic waiting times, more affordable medications and treatments, enhanced hospital facilities, and increased patient engagement in treatment decisions.
Gureje made his appeal during the 2026 World Mental Health Day Symposium hosted by the Department of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. The symposium’s theme was, “Building Person-Centred Mental Health Services”.
In his opening speech as the event’s chairman, he emphasized that mental health services should prioritize the needs, dignity, and preferences of patients, rather than merely catering to the convenience of healthcare providers.
He highlighted that person-centred care goes beyond simply diagnosing conditions and prescribing medications; it involves truly listening to patients, engaging with compassion, honoring their choices, and ensuring
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