The expert at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) most of the cases were traceable to societal abuse suffered by the youth, especially young women. He added that the increase in incidence is more than 30 per cent.
Agbir said: "In the last four years, the number of mental cases we have received has risen by more than 30 per cent. Many of the patients have exhibited signs of being victims of various forms of societal abuse, while others, especially the young men, appear hit by unemployment, despondence and growing hopelessness.
"Among the young women, the major factors responsible for their instability are related to traumatic experiences after witnessing the physical attacks on close relations.
"Some women have also suffered domestic violence, sexual assault, betrayal and increase in societal abuse, especially rape cases.
"Another factor responsible for the rise is the pains during child birth, a situation that usually leads to an increase in the secretion of a particular hormone which makes the woman more prone to depression,” he said.
Among young men, he said the sharp rise in the consumption of substances and abuse of alcohol and hard drugs are among the leading causes of mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, perceptual abnormalities and addiction to substances that causes disorders.
"Patients are showing symptoms such as perpetual sadness, the feeling of hopelessness, restlessness, irritability, aggression, false beliefs, hallucination and withdrawal from people," he said.
He advised government at all levels to sensitise the public on the causes and factors leading to mental disorders to ensure earlier diagnosis and easier management.
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