Nigeria Grapples with Mounting Mental Health Crisis: 20 Million Affected as Experts Call for Urgent Action

ABUJA, Nigeria – A staggering 20 to 30 percent of Nigerians, estimated to be between 40 and 60 million people, are living with mental health conditions, a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report reveals. This alarming figure underscores a burgeoning public health crisis, with experts warning of a looming catastrophe if deliberate and widespread interventions are not prioritized.

Dr. Azubike Aliche, Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria-American Institute for Mental Health (NAIMH), highlighted this pressing issue during a mental health GAP Action training program in Owerri on Tuesday. The program, organized in collaboration with the Centre for Social Awareness, Advocacy and Ethics (CSAAE) and sponsored by Nigeria Mental Health Practitioners (NMHP) USA Incorporated, aims to empower non-psychiatrists to identify and manage mental health symptoms at the grassroots level.

Dr. Aliche described the caseload of depression in Nigeria as “alarming,” stating that the country reportedly has one of the highest caseloads of depression globally. He stressed the urgent need to change the narrative, noting that only a meager 10 percent of Nigerians living with mental illness currently have access to care. This scarcity of care is further compounded by a severe shortage of mental health professionals, with reports indicating as few as 200 psychiatrists serving a population of over 200 million.

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Rev. Sr. Josephine Nzeke, an Executive Member of NMHP USA, detailed the four-day pilot training, which will equip 25 healthcare professionals from five council areas in Imo State. These trained individuals will then return to their communities to provide essential mental health services.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Chioma Egu, acknowledged the mental health crisis as a “global challenge” and urged the institute to leverage existing government mental health policies.

Justice Ulunta of the Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, a facilitator at the training, emphasized the critical need for government allocation of adequate resources towards training mental health experts and equipping facilities across the nation.

Adding to the call for action, Miss Francisca Ekwonu, Chief Operations Officer of CSAAE, reiterated her organization’s commitment to effective collaborations to confront the challenge head-on. She highlighted CSAAE’s “C-Health” program, designed to propagate mental health support at the grassroots, especially as Nigerians contend with hardship and information overload. “Our toll-free line 08009001000 is open, and our mental health support specialist will be there to provide support,” she affirmed.

This stark reality comes amidst warnings from family physicians about a looming mental health crisis exacerbated by current economic hardships. The increased stress, anxiety, and depression levels underscore the urgent need for a national, multi-pronged approach to address mental well-being in Nigeria.