The President, Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Dr. Veronica Nyamali, has disclosed that one in four Nigerians is living with a mental health challenge.
While raising concerns over the burden of mental health challenges in Nigeria, she said an estimated 60 million Nigerians are affected.
The consultant psychiatrist noted that of the estimated 60 million Nigerians not enjoying good mental health, social pressure and stigma are preventing many from seeking appropriate help.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that this is coming amid calls by psychiatrists and mental health support groups for the full implementation of the Mental Health Act and passage of a bill before the National Assembly seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide and replace imprisonment with medical treatment, rehabilitation and psychological support.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise to commemorate World Mental Health Day 2026, themed ‘Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change’, the APN president said no fewer than 60 million Nigerians are living with mental health challenges.
“The estimate has since been put at 60 million. That means one in every four Nigerians has a mental health challenge,” she told PUNCH Healthwise.
According to her, having a mental health challenge is different from having a psychiatric diagnosis.
“A diagnosis is the end of the road. What we are saying is that some people are on their way to being diagnosed.
“Mental illness, or mental disorder, is a process. You do not just get there suddenly. There is a road that takes you there. When you do not do the needful, you may eventually get there,” the APN president said.
She listed mental health challenges to include mood disorder, anxiety disorder, stress and trauma-related disorder, personality and behavioural disorder.
The APN president said several factors are drivers of mental health challenges, including biological and psychosocial factors, among others.
She explained that varied life experiences and challenges, including the prevailing economic reality in Nigeria, are predisposing many people to mental health challenges.
“Some people are vulnerable because they have inherited certain traits. They have genes that may predispose them to mental illness. You may find that such people will not experience a mental breakdown if life is good. However, when life becomes turbulent and they constantly face problems of all kinds, including those that we cannot even quantify, their vulnerability may become apparent.
“The average Nigerian is dealing with many challenges. When you look at what is happening in Africa, mental illness appears to be more prevalent in this part of the world than in Western countries. This is because of poverty, economic downturn, and the many problems people face.
“There are also psychosocial problems, including those around us like natural disasters, flooding, and other environmental challenges. Then, of course, there are man-made problems which are also triggers,” she said.
The APN president added, “There are government policies and actions that affect people. There is unemployment, and people struggle to earn a living or afford three square meals a day. The basic necessities of life are simply not available to many people.
“Then there is insecurity, which is a major problem. You hear about suicide, rape, and crises all over the country. All these challenges take a toll on people’s mental health, particularly those who are directly bearing the brunt of all these challenges.”
According to her, because of these life complexities, many Nigerians engage in substance use, and substance use can drive people into all sorts of risky behaviours.
She explained that facing several challenges, including economic downturn, puts many Nigerians in a state of “perpetual fear”.
“People live in fear, and their minds are not settled. They become anxious, which can be an early feature of many mental health conditions. If anxiety becomes overwhelming and reaches a greater intensity, it may develop into an anxiety disorder.
According to her, if people do not take the necessary steps, recognise the problem or seek appropriate care, the condition may worsen.
“Sometimes, people visit general practitioners who fail to recognise the mental health problem and treat them for something else. As the condition progresses, it may become more complicated, and the person may develop depression.
“If depression is not properly addressed, it can progress from mild to moderate and then severe. Severe depression may be accompanied by psychotic symptoms or suicidal thoughts. The person may then become trapped in a vicious cycle of mental health challenges. That is how it happens,” Nyamali said.
Aside from biological and psychosocial factors, she listed psychological issues, negative life events, adverse childhood experiences, and predisposing factors to mental health challenges.
“We live in a chaotic environment. We do not have an environment that supports mental stability when all these problems remain unaddressed. In that situation, they are not enjoying good mental well-being.
“Mental health is also part of a nation’s social capital. When we talk about social capital, we are talking about investing in people and their well-being,” she said.
The consultant psychiatrist explained that while mental health care is available in Nigeria, it must start from the family and community.
“Mental health care is available in Nigeria, and everybody has a role to play in providing it. When we talk about mental health, care should begin at the community level.
“By community, I mean among ourselves, in our clinics, hospitals, schools, local communities, parks and religious settings, including churches and mosques. Mental health care should happen everywhere,” she said.
Nyamali explained that when the situation could not be helped at that level, then people should seek secondary, tertiary, and specialist care from medical facilities.
“When a case is difficult to treat or resistant to treatment, and the patient is not getting better, specialist care may be required at a higher level. The specialists are at the peak of the triangle,” she said.
To reduce stigma and ensure Nigerians seek help, she said experts now consult with patients online using technology.
“Platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams can be used to consult with patients remotely. The services are available,” Nyamali said.
The APN president, however, decried the number of psychiatrists in Nigeria.
“Nigeria currently has between 250 and 280 psychiatrists. That is a very small number for a population of about 200 million Nigerians. The World Health Organisation recommends a ratio of one psychiatrist to 10,000 people.
“However, given the number of psychiatrists we have in Nigeria, the ratio is far worse. It may be as low as one psychiatrist to 900,000 or even one million people. You can see that one psychiatrist cannot cope with such a demand. Brain drain also continues. People keep leaving the country for greener pastures,” she said.
Nyamali, however, said the implementation of the Mental Health Act, being clamoured for by the APN, would benefit many people living with mental health challenges in Nigeria.
“Nigerians would benefit, especially the family members of people living with mental illness. If the Act is implemented, mental health service delivery will have a unified, coherent, and coordinated response. Everything will be properly regulated. Once we have that kind of coordinated response, patients will benefit, and the burden on their family members will be reduced,” she said.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that mental health is a state of well-being that enables individuals to realise their potential, withstand daily stresses, contribute meaningfully to their community, and function both socially and emotionally.
Mental illness, on the other hand, is a state of psychological disturbance in thinking, emotion, memory, or behaviours that is severe enough to cause pain and distress to the individual and those around them, alongside impairment in social and occupational functioning.