Soaring drug prices, poverty, and a shrinking workforce are worsening Nigeria’s mental health disorders, raising the population of people with psychiatric cases across the country.
Nigeria has only 250 psychiatrists despite the fact that one-quarter of the nation’s 200 million people are experiencing mental illnesses, according to the World Bank.
Similarly, drug prices have jumped by more than 100 percent within two years, forcing poor mental case patients to avoid treatment.
Taiwo Obindo, president of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), said the mental health status of several Nigerians is relatively poor due to high rates of poverty, soaring medication costs and workforce shortages.
“Many in critical condition can’t pay for treatment, and others with milder cases are deteriorating because they can’t afford to stay on their medications,” Obindo said.
“With the current economic struggles and population growth, mental health cases are likely rising,” he added.
Another critical factor driving the crisis is the exit of doctors to overseas, otherwise known as japa, which is threatening to tear the already-stretched psychiatric workforce.
“We’re losing professionals every day. It’s a silent emergency,” Obindo stressed.
Olugbenga Owoeye, chief medical director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, confirmed the spike in mental illness cases, blaming it on the country’s economic crisis.
“In 2025 alone, psychiatric admissions have increased,” he said. “We saw a three percent rise in total patient visits, a seven percent increase in new cases, and a 100 percent surge in admissions,” Owoeye stated.
Tolu Ajomale, a mental health consultant at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, highlighted the growing incidence of mental health disorders linked to drug abuse, noting that more individuals turn to substances to cope with economic stress.
The burden
With just 250 psychiatrists serving about 50 million Nigerians living with mental health disorders, experts say the system is severely overstretched.
“There’s a huge gap between need and resources,” said Obindo.
“The burden is enormous, and mental health professionals continue to be sidelined,” Obindo noted.
Frontline professionals are feeling the pressure. Loretta Ugonma, a clinical health worker, said the demand for her services is high but the staffing crisis is directly impacting care.
“Where demand is high and the staff members are few, the quality of care drops,” she said. “Discharges are delayed, and some services have to be suspended altogether,” she added.
Other reasons for the surge
Cyber-bullying, social comparison, drug addiction and poverty are major drivers of mental health disorders and suicidal behaviour in Nigeria, according to mental health advocates.
Divine Ezekiel, a mental health advocate, noted that many people fall into depression due to constant comparisons with peers, leading to anxiety and a fear of missing out. “This pressure often drives individuals into severe depression and, in some cases, suicide,” she said.
Citing the WHO data, Obindo revealed that over 30 percent of Nigerians live with mental health disorders—a number likely rising due to worsening poverty, insecurity, and anxiety.
Challenges
He cited the stalled implementation of the Mental Health Act of 2021 as a major bottleneck.
“The Mental Health Act has been passed and gazetted but has not been implemented,” Obindo stated. “The existing Lunacy Act does not protect the rights of those with mental health illnesses,” he added.
Obindo also condemned the growing number of unaccredited mental health centres across the country, warning that they pose more harm than help. “These unregulated centres are offering substandard care and exploiting vulnerable patients,” he noted.
He emphasised the disconnect between mental health care and Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, especially in rural areas.
“Over 70 percent of Nigerians living in rural areas have zero access to mental health services,” he said. “Many of them have to travel long distances to the cities to access mental health services, while some do not come at all,” Obindo stated.
“Mental health continues to be sidelined in national budgets. The budget to the health sector, and by extension the mental health sub-sector, is lagging,” he warned.
The way forward
“Funding through public and private stakeholders, involvement of the National Health Insurance Scheme to reduce treatment costs and the creation of an independent ministry or department of mental health, as seen in other countries, are critical steps toward meaningful improvement, ” Obindo stated.
“Mental health awareness is still dangerously low,” noted Tiwatayo Lasebikan, a consultant psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba. “There is a pressing need for widespread public education.”
“We must teach people how to handle stress, emotions, and social pressure—and when to seek help,” added Ezekiel, earlier quoted.
(BusinessDay)
