An estimated 20 million Nigerians are currently living with various mental health conditions, according to recent figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO), sparking renewed calls for urgent investment in mental health services and awareness across the country.
The WHO report, released as part of its global mental health briefing, highlighted Nigeria as one of the countries with a high burden of untreated mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and schizophrenia.
Experts attribute the growing mental health crisis to a combination of factors, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, social stigma, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In rural areas, the situation is even more dire, with man patients relying on traditional healing methods due to lack of access to qualified mental health professionals.
“Mental health is a silent epidemic in Nigeria,” said Dr. Adaeze Obasi, a Lagos-based psychiatrist. “We see patients daily who have suffered in silence for years, mostly because they fear being labeled or rejected by society.”
According to the WHO, Nigeria has fewer than 300 psychiatrists to serve a population of over 200 million — a figure mental health advocates describe as alarming and grossly inadequate.
The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, has acknowledged the challenges and recently launched the National Mental Health Act to strengthen mental health policy, improve access to services, and integrate mental health care into primary health services.
Civil society groups and non-governmental organizations are also stepping up their efforts by launching community-based awareness campaigns and offering free counseling services. However, they insist that more funding, training, and public education are urgently needed to address the crisis comprehensively.
With 20 million Nigerians affected, stakeholders agree that addressing mental health should no longer be an afterthought but a national priority.