Over 40 Million Nigerians Suffer Mental Health Challenge -Experts

Raymond Osho
Psychiatrists have revealed that at least 40 Million Nigerians suffer from one form of mental health problem.
The mental health experts said the country has largest burden of depression and ranks the 15th Global highest suicide of 7,019 annual deaths.
They made the revelation at a workshop on the country’s mental health act, organised by the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) in collaboration with the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta, in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital on Wednesday.
The Mental Health Act was signed into law in 2023 by the former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2003.
The Mental Health Act is a law that tells people with a mental health disorder what their rights are and how they can be treated
The psychiatrists lamented that despite its existence, the act has not been domesticated, leaving individuals with mental health challenges without access to proper care and protection from discrimination.
The APN’s National President, Prof. Taiwo Jemes Obindo, while speaking at the workshop advocated that the federal government should take swift action in domesticating the act.
He noted that the Act would ensure that people with mental health issues receive the support and understanding they deserve.
The association is also pushing for increased funding to establish a dedicated Department of Mental Health within the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as the creation of a Mental Health Fund to provide vital resources for those in need.
The National President said “Domesticating the Mental Health Act is crucial for ensuring that individuals with mental health challenges are not marginalized or stigmatized. We urge the federal government to take action and ensure that all citizens have access to inclusive care and support.
“ We now have a humane mental health act that speaks to the rights of those who have mental health conditions. Speaks to care for them. Their right to access to quality care. Nobody should discriminate or stigmatize them, the right to cooperate and to relate well. They must have appropriate and proper care until the person is insightful enough so it’s a whole package.
“The federal ministry of health needs to implement the act , yes we have some states where the act is currently effective, states like Lagos and Ekiti and there are states that are in the process of having it domesticated but we should start from the head, if the head is able to implement it, then you can then be able to push the states and the local governments.”, he added.
Also, one of the Speakers at the workshop, Dr Yesiu Adeyemi Kareem said “Huge treatment gap Only 10-15% of those with mental health problems are able to access evidence-based treatment Total healthcare budget 4% of GDP: of which Mental health accounts for about 3%.
“Less than 300 psychiatrists serve 200 million people, (1: 1 Million). 5-7 out of every 10 Psychiatrists in Nigeria are seeking to emigrate.