THE National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Tunde Massey Ojo, said up to 30 per cent of Nigerians suffer from one form of mental health condition during their lifetime.
Ojo disclosed this at the annual Secure The Future (SDF) Counselling Summit in Abuja on Wednesday, May 7, with the theme “From Policy to Practice: Counseling as a Framework for Addressing Nigeria’s Mental Health Gap and Challenges.”
According to Ojo, who was represented at the occasion by an assistant director in the Ministry of Health, Grace Ogunleye, mental health conditions have emerged as one of the greatest health and development challenges of our time.
He stressed that in Nigeria, the treatment gap exceeds 80 per cent, meaning that the vast majority of affected individuals do not receive any form of professional support.
He pointed out that mental health services are often inaccessible, especially in rural and underserved communities, as mental health professionals are in short supply.
He listed stigmatisation and discrimination as significant barriers, discouraging help-seeking behaviour and reinforcing myths and human rights abuses.
“The economic, social, and developmental costs of untreated mental health conditions are enormous, affecting not just individuals but families, communities, and the nation at large.
Until recently, mental health in Nigeria received limited institutional attention. The Mental Health, Alcohol, and Substance Use desk, located within the Non-Communicable Diseases Division of the Department of Public Health, was led by a desk officer and operated without a robust structure,” he stated.
According to him, Nigeria relied on the Lunacy Act of 1958, a colonial-era law that did not reflect current human rights standards or global mental health priorities.
He said that while the 2013 National Policy for Mental Health Service Delivery existed, it primarily emphasised treatment in specialised institutions, neglecting prevention, psychosocial support, and community-based approaches.
According to Ojo, more than 970 million people are living with mental health conditions globally.
Ojo stated that depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy over $1 trillion each year in lost productivity.
He quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that say one in every eight people in the world lives with a mental disorder, and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young people aged 15–29 years.
He added that despite the statistic, mental health continues to receive less than 2 per cent of health budgets globally and even less in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
In her opening remark, the founder of SDF, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Saadatu Adamu, said her organisation has reached thousands of young people with interventions through the Mental Health School Club, providing a safe space for students to explore and strengthen their mental well-being.
She said the annual mental health conferences bring together professional practitioners and experienced people to share knowledge, expertise, and coping mechanisms around mental health issues.
“We remain committed to our vision of having a country where mental health issues are normal conversations to highlight and be comfortable to discuss,” she said.
She added that the establishment of the SDF Support Home has transformed so many lives and has been impactful.
In her speech at the occasion, the president of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Edna Azura, said mental health is the foundation of a thriving community, but for too long it has been shrouded in stigma, silence, and ignorance, particularly from men, young people, and minority groups.
She said the unveiling of the SDF Guide to Effective Mental Health Counselling will empower professionals with culturally sensitive strategies to address trauma, anxiety, depression, and the unique physiological challenges faced by Nigerians today.
She added that the guide will serve as a beacon of hope for many who are silently struggling.
“Women and girls often bear the brunt of emotional and psychological stress due to societal expectations, economic pressures, and systemic inequalities,” Azura stated.
She said NWCS is committed to advocating for policies and programs that address challenges historically and recognise mental wellness, which is inseparable from national development.
There was an unveiling of the SDF Guide to Effective Mental Health, which is a publication of the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria (CPCN) and the SDF, at the event.
The publication aims to bridge the mental health gap in Nigeria.
A reporter with the ICIR
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