Nigeria can no longer afford to treat mental health, neurological disorders and substance-use conditions as peripheral concerns in its healthcare system. Behind the statistics are young people whose futures are threatened, families struggling in silence and communities losing valuable human potential. The tragic account of a young boy who reportedly consumed the psychoactive substance known as Colos before jumping into the Mile 2 canal in Lagos, leaving a bereaved mother to endure another devastating loss, is a painful reminder of the consequences of untreated vulnerabilities and inadequate support systems.
Such tragedies should compel the government to act, not merely generate public sympathy. Nigeria’s large youthful population should be an economic advantage, but this demographic dividend cannot be realised if the physical and psychological wellbeing of young people is neglected.
The reported shortage of fewer than 300 psychiatrists serving more than 220 million Nigerians exposes a serious weakness in the nation’s healthcare system. Mental health services remain inaccessible to many people, particularly those in rural communities and low-income households. For others, stigma, discrimination, misinformation and the high cost of treatment prevent them from seeking professional assistance until their conditions become severe.
This situation demands urgent policy attention. Mental health is inseparable from national development. Depression, anxiety, neurological conditions and harmful substance use can undermine educational attainment, employment, productivity, family relationships and sound decision-making. When these conditions go untreated, the consequences extend beyond individuals to families, workplaces and the wider economy.
The World Health Organisation reported in September 2025 that more than one billion people worldwide live with mental health conditions, including an estimated 150 million in Africa. Yet, spending on mental healthcare remains inadequate. The WHO estimated that Africa spends approximately $0.07 per person on mental health, compared with a global average of $2.69. These figures reveal a funding gap that African governments, including Nigeria’s, must urgently address.
The first priority should be the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare. Primary healthcare centres are often the first point of contact for Nigerians seeking medical attention. Strengthening them to provide basic mental health screening, counselling, early intervention, referrals and follow-up care would bring services closer to communities and reduce pressure on specialist hospitals.
Government should also invest in training and retaining psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, counsellors and other mental healthcare professionals. Task-sharing arrangements, under which trained primary healthcare workers provide appropriate basic services under professional supervision, could help address workforce shortages. However, such arrangements must include adequate training, referral pathways and continuing professional support.
Equally important is the need to expand community-based care. People experiencing mental health conditions should not automatically be isolated from their families or communities. Recovery often requires appropriate treatment, supportive relationships, housing, education, employment opportunities and protection from discrimination. Institutional care remains necessary for some patients, but it should be humane, rights-based and complemented by accessible community services.
Nigeria must also confront the growing dangers associated with psychoactive substances. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria should strengthen their respective regulatory, enforcement and public education responsibilities. Drug prevention must begin in schools and communities, with parents, teachers, religious leaders and youth organisations participating in sustained awareness campaigns.
People experiencing substance-use disorders should not be treated solely as offenders when they need medical care. Enforcement against illegal drug supply must go hand in hand with prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration. Social media and indigenous-language communication should be used to counter misinformation, challenge stigma and encourage early help-seeking.
The theme of World Mental Health Day 2026, ‘Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change’, reinforces another essential principle: people who have experienced mental health challenges must participate in decisions affecting their lives. Their experiences can help policymakers design services that are compassionate, accessible and effective.
Government must therefore move beyond occasional commemorative events and establish measurable commitments on financing, staffing, service availability and treatment outcomes. Federal and state authorities should publish progress reports, strengthen mental health legislation and ensure that budgetary commitments translate into functioning services.
Finally, mental healthcare is not charity; it is an investment in human dignity, public safety and economic productivity. Nigeria cannot build a prosperous nation while leaving millions of people without the support they need to live healthy and productive lives.
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