The Federal Government has promised to implement the Mental Health Act and ensure access to compassionate, affordable, and quality health services. The National Coordinator, National Mental Health Programme, Dr Tunde Ojo, who disclosed this at the symposium organised by Mental Health With Ditty Foundation to mark the 2024 World Mental Day in Abuja, said that mental health is a universal concern, hence the need to build an inclusive mental health system needed to advance mental health in the country.

Psychosis, substance abuse, and child/adolescent mental health issues are major concerns. The prevalence of mental disorders in Nigeria is estimated at 20-30 per cent of the population. Depression and anxiety are the most common conditions, affecting up to seven million and five million Nigerians respectively.

Ojo stressed the need to address the stigma and barriers that prevent Nigerians with mental health disorders from seeking care. He said, “We know this task cannot be accomplished alone. It requires the collective efforts of government, civil society, healthcare providers, and advocates building a truly inclusive mental health system.

“The symposium is a collaborative effort to advance mental health in Nigeria. The discussions, ideas, and solutions generated will play an important role in shaping the future of mental health care in our nation.”

Meanwhile, the Mental Health With Ditty Foundation said that the current high inflation and economic hardship have had a significant impact on the mental health of young Nigerians.

The foundation noted that unemployment, rising cost of living, and reduced access to necessities have led to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among this demographic.

Founder, Mental Health Ditty Foundation, Dr Adedotun Esan told The Guardian that financial difficulties and economic insecurity are major risk factors for poor mental health, especially in developing countries like Nigeria.

According to her, the combination of socioeconomic challenges and systemic gaps in mental health infrastructure has created a mental health crisis in Nigeria. She called for urgent, multi-stakeholder action to improve access, quality, and affordability of mental health services nationwide.

To address this worsening mental health crisis, Esan advocated a multi-pronged approach including integration of mental health services into primary healthcare, adding that embedding mental health screening, diagnosis, and basic treatment into routine primary care visits will improve access and reduce stigma.

She also called for the expansion of the mental health workforce, as Nigeria faces a severe shortage of psychiatrists, with only about 300 practising nationwide.

Esan also suggested task-shifting to train more psychologists, mental health nurses, and community health workers to bridge the gap and incentives to encourage more professionals to work in underserved rural areas.

She called for increased mental health awareness and destigmatisation like public education campaigns, school-based programmes, and community outreach, which are crucial to reducing the pervasive stigma around mental illness and encouraging more people to seek timely care.

She lamented that the Federal Government allocates less than four per cent of its total health budget to mental health, adding that increasing funding for mental health services, including insurance coverage, is critical to addressing the mental health problems in the country.