“Silent Epidemic: Nigeria’s Mental Health Crisis Deepens As 85% Remain Unreached”

By DIANA CHUKWUKA

ON a humid Lagos afternoon, E.O. Obanor sits on the veranda of his one-room apartment, watching his children play. Three years ago, he was a bakery supervisor earning ₦220,000 monthly. Today, he’s unemployed, battling debt, and fighting thoughts that frighten him.

“I never thought I’d come this low,” he says quietly. “When everything collapsed—the job, the business, the cost of living—I almost gave up.”

Obanor’s story mirrors that of millions of Nigerians whose mental health is hanging by a thread. Behind every headline about inflation, job loss, or insecurity lies another unspoken crisis—one that doesn’t make front pages but claims lives daily.

The Weight of an Unseen Epidemic

Over 40 million Nigerians are living with one form of mental health disorder or another, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Yet, only about 200 psychiatrists serve a population of more than 220 million—a ratio of one psychiatrist to over a million people.

This means that more than 85 per cent of Nigerians in need of care will never get it. In rural areas, where most of the population lives, psychiatric care is almost non-existent.

Many turn instead to faith healers, traditional homes, or isolation—sometimes in chains. Others simply give up.

A Nation on Edge

Rising poverty, insecurity, and economic strain have pushed mental health to the brink. The World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update paints a grim picture: poverty has jumped from 81 million in 2019 to 139 million in 2025. Inflation continues to erode purchasing power, while unemployment and uncertainty gnaw at public morale.

“The impact is such that people’s economic power has reduced, needs have increased, and the cost of living has gone up,” said Prof. Taiwo Obindo, President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN). “We now see depression and anxiety even among adolescents and professionals.”

Obindo estimates that between 85 and 90 per cent of people with mental health conditions receive no form of treatment, mostly due to stigma, ignorance, and the high cost of care.

The Price of Neglect

Mental illness isn’t just a medical problem—it’s an economic one. Experts estimate that Nigeria loses over ₦21 billion annually to untreated mental health conditions. Depression and anxiety alone are responsible for 12 billion lost workdays globally each year, costing economies trillions.

But in Nigeria, the losses are measured not only in naira but in human lives. Between 2020 and 2023, suicide rates doubled, making self-harm one of the leading causes of death among Nigerians under 40.

A Broken System

Nigeria’s mental health infrastructure is threadbare. The country has only nine psychiatric hospitals, and most are overstretched. Many states lack even a single psychiatrist or functioning mental health facility.

“The situation is catastrophic,” said Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, Acting Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba. “We should have at least one psychiatric hospital in every state. Access must be local and affordable.”

Though Nigeria reviewed and passed its National Mental Health Act in 2023—after 36 years of stagnation—implementation remains weak.

“Policies alone don’t treat patients,” Owoeye said. “We need funding, integration into primary healthcare, and manpower.”

Barriers of Belief and Stigma

Beyond infrastructure, cultural beliefs remain a stubborn barrier. “Mental illness is still seen as spiritual or moral failure,” explained Dr. Miracle Ihuoma, a clinical psychologist. “Many people first go to churches, mosques, or traditional healers instead of hospitals.”

He said myths and religion often delay diagnosis and treatment. “If someone hears voices or withdraws socially, people think it’s a curse. But it could be depression, schizophrenia, or trauma.”

The Way Forward

Experts agree that integrating mental health into primary healthcare is the most urgent step. This would allow early detection and treatment at community level—where people live and work.

They also call for:

• Full implementation of the 2023 Mental Health Act.

• Insurance coverage for mental health treatment.

• Public education to fight stigma and promote empathy.

• Incentives to retain psychiatrists and mental health workers in Nigeria.

As Owoeye puts it: “We can’t afford to lose our minds as we lose our people.”

A Call to Conscience

World Mental Health Day is marked every 10th October to promote awareness and inclusion. But in Nigeria, it feels less like a commemoration and more like a cry for help.

For Obanor, the Lagos baker who almost gave up, hope came just in time—a call offering him a new job. But for millions of others without such luck, the silence continues.

If the mind is the nation’s most valuable resource, Nigeria cannot afford to keep losing it.