NHRC, MHEI call for affordable mental health care in Nigeria

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and mental health advocates have called for increased funding, affordable mental health services and stronger protection for people living with mental health conditions in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, and the Founder and President of The Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI), Dr. Ameh Zion Abba, made the call at a press conference organised by the Commission to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Day.

They stressed that mental health should be treated not only as a medical concern but also as a fundamental human rights issue requiring coordinated action by government, healthcare providers, civil society, families and the media.

Ojukwu said everyone had the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, adding that people living with mental health conditions must be treated with dignity, respect and compassion without discrimination or stigma.

He cited Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which recognises the right of every individual to enjoy the best attainable state of physical and mental health and obliges states to take necessary measures to protect public health.

According to him, Nigeria has made important legislative and policy commitments through the National Mental Health Act, 2021, which received presidential assent in December 2022, as well as the National Mental Health Policy and the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework.

He, however, maintained that effective implementation of these measures remained critical to ensuring that people affected by mental health conditions received adequate protection and access to care.

Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Ojukwu said the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that nearly one in seven people globally live with a mental disorder, while many people who need care do not receive effective treatment.

He noted that poverty, violence, disability, inequality and humanitarian emergencies could increase the risk of poor mental health. Nigeria, he said, faced significant mental health needs, particularly in communities affected by conflict, displacement, abductions and other forms of violence.

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The NHRC boss also expressed concern over the financial barriers to treatment, noting that limited health insurance coverage leaves many affected individuals and families struggling to meet the cost of care.

He warned that people living with mental health conditions often faced stigma, neglect, violence and exclusion from education, employment, housing and community life.

“A mental-health condition does not reduce a person’s worth, dignity or human rights,” he said, stressing that mental health services should be affordable, accessible and available through communities and primary healthcare centres.

The Executive Secretary further disclosed that the NHRC was collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to mainstream human rights into the proposed National Mental Health Strategic Plan for 2027–2032.

He described the initiative as an important opportunity to incorporate human rights principles into Nigeria’s mental health planning.

In his goodwill message titled, “Mental Health Is a Human Right: Advancing Dignity, Inclusion and Access to Care in Nigeria”, Abba described mental health as a human rights imperative, warning that stigma, discrimination, inadequate services and shortages of trained professionals continued to prevent many Nigerians from accessing appropriate care.

Abba said survivors of violence, terrorism, displacement and abuse often carried psychological wounds, while families and caregivers struggled emotionally and financially without adequate support.

He stressed that the National Mental Health Act, 2021, must be effectively implemented, with stronger accountability, expanded community-based services and safeguards against discrimination.