Nigeria Launches First Mental Health Policy Tracker to Drive Accountability

Digital Platform Targets Gaps in Mental Health Reform

NIGERIA has unveiled its first public-facing Mental Health Policy Commitment Tracker, a digital accountability platform designed to independently monitor the implementation of the country’s mental health laws, policies and institutional reforms.

Developed by advocacy organisation Nigerian Mental Health (NMH), the online platform was officially launched during a virtual event following its initial public presentation in May. The initiative seeks to provide policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations, healthcare professionals and citizens with a transparent mechanism for tracking the government’s progress in delivering mental health commitments.

According to NMH, the tracker monitors implementation across critical areas, including mental health financing, workforce development, access to treatment, legal reforms and state-level policy implementation.

Addressing Slow Implementation of Landmark Legislation

The launch comes more than three years after Nigeria enacted the National Mental Health Act, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023.

The legislation replaced the decades-old Lunacy Act, which many experts considered outdated and inconsistent with modern human rights standards. The new law introduced sweeping reforms aimed at protecting the rights of people living with mental health conditions while establishing key institutions, including a Department of Mental Health Services and a Mental Health Fund.

Despite the legal milestone, stakeholders say implementation has fallen behind expectations.

NMH noted that several statutory institutions required under the Act are yet to become fully operational. The organisation also pointed to delays in implementing the National Mental Health Policy and Nigeria’s first Suicide Prevention Policy Framework, as well as the Federal Government’s failure to meet its December 2025 target for fully decriminalising attempted suicide.

These implementation gaps, according to the organisation, underscore the need for stronger public oversight and continuous monitoring.

Public Dashboard Promotes Transparency

The Mental Health Policy Commitment Tracker functions as an open-access dashboard that compiles verified information from multiple sources, including government reports, legislative records, budget documents, stakeholder submissions and community-based evidence.

Each policy commitment is assigned an implementation status—such as Not Started, In Progress, Delayed, or Completed—allowing users to monitor reform efforts at both federal and state levels.

Beyond legal reforms, the platform also tracks governance structures, budget allocations, workforce development, affordability of services, treatment availability and broader rights-based initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s mental healthcare system.

Speaking during the launch, NMH Founder Chime Asonye said policy announcements alone are insufficient without measurable implementation.

He stressed that public visibility must be accompanied by tangible institutional, legal and service delivery outcomes capable of improving access to quality mental healthcare.

Stakeholders Welcome Independent Oversight

The launch attracted participation from government officials, development partners, researchers, civil society organisations, healthcare practitioners, media representatives and mental health advocates.

Among organisations supporting the initiative are Lagos Mind, Mind Over Matters NG, Stilt NG, Our Beta Life, the Mental Health Transformation Organisation (MHT) and Hevolve Foundation.

Mental health advocate and musician Hadiza Blell-Olo, popularly known as Di’ja, encouraged influential public figures to complement awareness campaigns with partnerships that strengthen policy implementation and accountability.

Similarly, the National Mental Health Coordinator at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunde Ojo, described independent accountability mechanisms as valuable tools for improving implementation and strengthening service delivery.

Improving Mental Healthcare Through Accountability

Nigeria continues to face significant mental health challenges, including limited access to psychiatric care, a shortage of trained professionals, widespread stigma and inadequate funding.

Health experts believe that while legislation has laid an important foundation for reform, sustained implementation, transparent monitoring and public participation will determine whether the country achieves meaningful improvements in mental healthcare delivery.

NMH said the platform remains open to policymakers, practitioners, researchers and members of the public, who can submit verified updates and implementation evidence to strengthen transparency and accelerate reform efforts nationwide.