Nigeria at 66: Mental health state of the nation

The most important resource for any organisation or nation is her human resource—the people. It should therefore be a no-brainer that any organisation or nation that desires to be successful and productive will invest in her human resources. They will ensure that they are equipped and provided the best tools to enhance the chances of success. The most basic of these investments will be to ensure that your staff or citizens are healthy and fit for purpose.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as ‘a state of complete physical, MENTAL, and SOCIAL well-being.’ Thus, health can be conceptualised as a stool sitting on 3 legs: physical leg, mental leg, and social leg. Are we paying attention to any of these three legs of health in Nigeria?

Current realities

We are failing woefully across the spectrum of public health for our citizens, from promotion to prevention to early identification and treatment and lastly, rehabilitation. This is especially true for mental and social well-being and only slightly better (but still a failure) in the area of physical health.

One out of every four Nigerians is at risk of experiencing a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime. That is at least 50 million Nigerians at risk. If we consider that every family has at least four members that also imply that every family is at risk of at least one family member experiencing a mental health issue at some point in their lifetime. These numbers deserve attention.

Drug abuse is rife and available at all motor parks and street junctions—openly so. Yet we are surprised at ghastly motor accidents and reckless motorcycle riders. Insecurity is rife with kidnappings and armed robbery attacks, unemployment rates are high, our infrastructure is poor, and the minds of the youth appear fixated on instant wealth with no labour – leading to fraud and other crimes. Our political leaders have their work cut out for them to inspire hope and chart a clear pathway for progress.

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The harsh socio-economic realities and increasing rates of depression and suicidal behaviours are a cause for concern. The WHO globally estimates that one suicide death occurs every 40 seconds around the world. And every two seconds, a human being somewhere will attempt to take their lives. We are increasingly seeing high rates of suicide and suicide attempts in Nigeria too. We also know that in the majority of these cases, depression is the underlying trigger.

Criminal neglect of mental health in Nigeria

Ignorance, shame, and stigma remain huge barriers preventing the utilisation of mental health services. With the rising cases of mental illness, drug abuse, and suicides in an ocean of hopelessness, poverty, and social difficulties, it is a shame that mental health remains neglected by governments at federal and state levels. The revised mental health policy of 2023 still does not have an accompanying mental health plan to guide implementation. The tangible anxiety is about the non-implementation of previous mental health policies (1991 and 2013 editions).

There is a mental health programme at the federal level, which is still a far cry from the Department of Mental Health that the Mental Health Act of 2021 recommends. However, only a mere handful of states have desk officers for mental health. Without the administrative and organisational structure to push for mental health, it is uncertain that much progress can be made, despite the strong commitments of the current staff of the Mental Health Program at the FMOH.

Call to action

Attempted suicide remains a crime, punishable by a 1-year jail term in both the Penal and Criminal Codes of Nigeria. The federal government has eventually indicated that an executive bill will be forwarded to the National Assembly to amend the Mental Health Act and decriminalize attempted suicide. We urge that this should be expeditiously implemented and seen through before the expiration of the tenure of this legislative assembly… preferably before election season takes over. Asido Foundation (www.asidofoundation.com) and other CSOs must sustain the advocacy and ensure that this task is accomplished.

We must also continue to advocate for the full implementation of the Mental Health Act of 2021. Poor implementation of policies and laws remains the bane of our mental health services in Nigeria. This situation must change for the better.

Conclusion

As we celebrate 66 years of nationhood, we have many challenges, but they are not insurmountable. They only require a conscious and strategic campaign to change minds and attitudes for the better via societal re-engineering. Nation building can never be accidental. It must be deliberate and calculated, with a focus on investments in a healthy populace. And optimal mental health should necessarily be a core consideration. Our best resources are our human resources. And they need to be healthy for optimal productivity. Remember, good health includes physical, MENTAL, and social well-being. There is NO HEALTH without MENTAL HEALTH. Happy 66th Independence Day, Nigeria.