Professional Evaluation of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services for Persons with Mental Illness in Ogun State

Psychosocial rehabilitation services for persons with mental illness in Nigeria remain inadequate, fragmented, and rarely evaluated for effectiveness, limiting the capacity of affected individuals to reintegrate into communities and lead fulfilling lives. This study professionally evaluated psychosocial rehabilitation services provided to persons with mental illness at three Ogun State public health facilities and two community-based rehabilitation programmes in Abeokuta and Sagamu. A programme evaluation methodology incorporating service documentation review, structured interviews with 18 service providers, and a service user satisfaction survey with 80 persons with mental illness was employed. Evaluation dimensions covered service scope (skills training, social support, employment, accommodation), service fidelity, outcome measurement practices, and service user inclusion in programme planning. Results showed that psychosocial rehabilitation services were limited to occupational therapy and group activity in 80 percent of assessed settings, with no formalised individual recovery planning, no employment rehabilitation, and no housing support. Service user satisfaction was moderate (mean 3.2 out of 5), with social connection opportunities rated highest. Outcome measurement was absent from all assessed programmes. Service user involvement in programme planning was minimal in all five sites. The study recommends adopting the Recovery Model as the guiding philosophy, developing individual recovery plans for all service users, introducing vocational rehabilitation partnerships, and implementing standardised outcome measurement in all Ogun State mental health rehabilitation services.

Keywords: psychosocial rehabilitation, mental illness, programme evaluation, Ogun State, recovery model