MENTAL ILLNESS: NATURE, CAUSES, CHARACTERISTICS AND NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION

Mental illness as a medical condition has in the 21st century, increased in lips and bounds across the world especially in Nigeria inside Africa. This prompted the researcher to call for attention, because it reduces the Nation’s productive ratio against the total dependant population in the country. Sequel to this, the researcher looked into the likely nature, causes, characteristics and the need for mental health education in schools and communities. Based on the above, it was recommended that the government, non-governmental organisations and the communities should continue to sensitise the citizenry of the communities on the adverse effects of mental illness on their health, as well as prevention and control measures.