Mental health professionals, civil society organisations and public health advocates have called for increased investment in mental healthcare services and stronger public awareness campaigns as concerns grow over rising mental health challenges across Nigeria.
The stakeholders made the call during separate interviews and health awareness engagements held in Abuja on Tuesday to commemorate ongoing advocacy efforts aimed at addressing mental health issues affecting millions of Nigerians.
According to the experts, economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, substance abuse, social isolation and rising societal pressures have contributed significantly to increasing cases of depression, anxiety, trauma and other psychological disorders.
A Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Ibrahim Musa, said that many Nigerians battling mental health conditions still faced stigma, discrimination and limited access to professional care.
Musa noted that despite growing awareness, mental health remained largely neglected within the country’s healthcare system.
“Many individuals suffering from mental illnesses are unable to seek help because of fear of discrimination or lack of affordable services.
“There is an urgent need for government, private institutions and communities to prioritise mental healthcare and create safe environments where people can seek support without shame,” he said.
He explained that untreated mental health conditions could negatively affect productivity, family relationships and national development.
The psychiatrist also urged authorities to strengthen mental health policies, improve funding for psychiatric facilities and recruit more trained professionals across primary healthcare centres.
Similarly, a mental health advocate and founder of a youth wellness initiative, Mrs Grace Samuel, stressed the importance of early intervention and public education.
Samuel said that young people were increasingly exposed to emotional stress linked to unemployment, social media pressure, drug abuse and academic challenges.
“We must begin to treat mental health with the same seriousness as physical health.
“Schools, workplaces and religious institutions should actively support counselling programmes and mental wellness education,” she said.
She added that community-based awareness campaigns could help reduce misconceptions surrounding mental illnesses and encourage more people to seek help.
Meanwhile, public health experts warned that Nigeria faced a shortage of mental health professionals, especially in rural communities where access to psychiatric care remained poor.
According to health advocates, many primary healthcare centres lack trained personnel and essential mental health support services.
They called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers and development partners to improve access to affordable treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
A clinical psychologist, Mr Daniel Eze, also emphasised the need for families and communities to pay closer attention to emotional and behavioural changes among individuals.
Eze said that timely support and open conversations could help prevent severe mental health outcomes, including self-harm and substance dependence.
He encouraged Nigerians to seek professional help whenever they experienced prolonged emotional distress, anxiety or depression.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has consistently identified mental health as a critical component of overall wellbeing, urging countries to expand access to mental healthcare and reduce stigma associated with mental illnesses.
Stakeholders at the event reiterated that improving mental health services would require sustained awareness, policy reforms and increased public and private sector investment.
They maintained that addressing the growing mental health burden was essential for improving public health outcomes and national productivity.
