The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) has expressed deep concern over the state of the country’s mental health system, warning that widespread neglect, economic hardship, and systemic barriers are exacerbating mental health challenges nationwide.
This concern was highlighted in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of APN’s 56th Annual General and Scientific Meeting in Benin City, themed “Nigeria Mental Health System: Gaps, Opportunities, and Prospects.” The statement, signed by APN President Prof. Taiwo Obindo and Secretary General Dr. Olajide Abayomi, emphasized that mental health remains critically underprioritized despite a growing burden of mental illness.
Key Challenges in Nigeria’s Mental Health Landscape
According to the communiqué, the psychiatrists identified several pressing threats to public mental health:
- Limited access to care and high treatment costs
- Absence of insurance coverage for mental health services
- Rising substance abuse among youth
- Low public awareness of mental health issues
The association noted that recent World Health Organization (WHO) findings indicate nearly 150 million people across Africa are affected by mental health conditions. Yet, care remains under-resourced, fragmented, and largely inaccessible, particularly in rural and underserved regions. WHO further reports that most African countries allocate less than $1 per person annually to mental health, leading to chronic shortages of trained professionals and inadequate infrastructure for prevention, treatment, and psychosocial support.
APN’s Observations and Recommendations
The APN highlighted that structural and cultural barriers create significant treatment gaps, leaving many individuals untreated. Economic hardship and the high cost of services further exacerbate mental health challenges. Youth mental health issues, substance abuse, and inadequate access to multidisciplinary care were identified as urgent public health and economic concerns.
The association called on the government to implement urgent measures to strengthen Nigeria’s mental health system, including:
- Improving access to evidence-based treatment and decentralizing care through primary health integration
- Providing social support systems to buffer the psychological effects of economic stress
- Building a national research consortium and promoting community engagement and youth empowerment
- Fostering intersectoral collaboration and demonstrating political will to re-engineer mental health services
The communiqué also emphasized the need for engagement with faith-based organizations, which remain trusted sources for mental health information and care in Nigeria. Collaboration with these groups could enhance awareness and basic mental health training.
Further recommendations included:
- Integrating psychotherapy into clinical practice and academic training
- Strengthening rehabilitation, aftercare, and social reintegration programs
- Expanding school-based mental health and early prevention programs
- Reforming educational curricula to reduce unemployment and underemployment
- Leveraging digital technology, including tele-psychiatry, and traditional and social media to reach youth
The APN concluded that coordinated action across sectors is critical to addressing mental health gaps in Nigeria and building a sustainable, inclusive mental health system.
Source: punchng.com
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