title: Frames of mental illness in the Yoruba genre of Nigerian movies: implications for orthodox mental health care.
abstract: This study examines the modes of framing mental illness in the Yoruba genre of Nigerian movies. All Yoruba films on display in a convenient sample of movie rental shops in Ibadan (Nigeria) were sampled for content. Of the 103 films studied, 27 (26.2%) contained scenes depicting mental illness. Psychotic symptoms were the most commonly depicted, while effective treatments were mostly depicted as taking place in unorthodox settings. The most commonly depicted aetiology of mental illness was sorcery and enchantment by witches and wizards, as well as other supernatural forces. Scenes of mental illness are common in Nigerian movies and these depictions-though reflecting the popular explanatory models of Yoruba-speaking Nigerians about mental illness- may impede utilization of mental health care services and ongoing efforts to reduce psychiatry stigma in this region. Efforts to reduce stigma and improve service utilization should engage the film industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital Ibadan, Ibadan 234, Nigeria. draromedics@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Olayinka
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Atilola
authors.forename: Funmilayo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olayiwola
mesh_terms: D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards; D009040:Motion Pictures; D009549:Nigeria / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Nigerian movies; mental health care; mental illness; stigma; supernatural forces