Healthcare stakeholders are moving to integrate mental health support into maternal care services in Nigeria, amid growing concerns over the emotional and psychological challenges associated with pregnancy, childbirth, fertility issues, and other reproductive health conditions.

Against this backdrop, Fortics Life Group and The Sunshine Series Mind Wellness have announced a strategic partnership aimed at integrating psychotherapy and mental health support directly into routine healthcare delivery.

The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), seeks to bridge what both organisations describe as a long-standing gap between physical and mental healthcare in Nigeria.

Under the arrangement, mental health professionals from The Sunshine Series will work alongside Fortics’ clinical teams to provide counselling and psychotherapy as part of maternal, sexual, and reproductive healthcare services.

The partners said the initiative is designed to address emotional and psychological challenges often ignored in conventional treatment models, particularly among women and families navigating pregnancy, childbirth, sexually transmitted infections, fertility concerns, and drug dependency.

Speaking on the partnership, Toluwalope Femi-Oyewole of Fortics Life Group said Nigeria’s healthcare system must move beyond treating only physical symptoms.

“By integrating mental health into our clinical pathways, we are ensuring that our clients receive comprehensive care that improves long-term health outcomes”, he said.

Representing The Sunshine Series, Aisha Bubah added, “Mental healthcare must be grounded in culture and community.

“This partnership ensures that support is empathetic, dignified, and responsive to the lived realities of families in Nigeria, making mental wellness an integral part of the healthcare journey rather than an afterthought.”

As part of the collaboration, the organisations introduced integrated healthcare packages that combine medical care with mental health support.

The antenatal package, includes routine tests and scans, medications, consultations, counselling sessions, massage therapy, and access to a WhatsApp support community linked to medical professionals.

The STI care package offers testing, treatment commencement, and psychotherapy support, while a separate drug abuse support package combines medical intervention with counselling services.

The organisations said the initiative also aims to challenge stigma around mental healthcare and encourage broader conversations around emotional well-being in medical treatment.

They added that the partnership could contribute to ongoing conversations about healthcare reform and the need for mental health integration within Nigeria’s broader public health framework.