A renewed call for urgent national attention to Nigeria’s growing mental health crisis has been made by a United States-trained and healthcare entrepreneur, Dr Oluwatoyin Oladejo, as she warned that the country is facing what she described as a “silent epidemic” fuelled by stigma, poor policy integration, and severe shortage of specialists.
Speaking during the unveiling of Kings Psychiatry, a mental health outpatient facility in Lagos, Oladejo said mental health challenges in Nigeria have reached alarming levels, yet remain largely ignored in public discourse and healthcare planning.
Also speaking, Lagos APC publicity secretary, Seye Oladejo, revealed that Nigeria, with a population of over 220 million people, has fewer than 300 psychiatrists, a ratio he described as “dangerously inadequate” for a country of its size.
“About one in four Nigerians will experience a mental health challenge at some point in their lives, yet nearly 80 per cent of those affected are unable to access treatment due to cost, stigma and lack of trained professionals,” he said.
Seye, who also served as a Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations in Lagos and a past Chairman of Mushin LGA, said the newly launched facility would offer psychiatric evaluations, counselling, psychotherapy, substance use disorder treatment, and crisis intervention services.
The centre will operate initially as an outpatient service, with plans to expand into full community-based and inpatient care, including detoxification services, in collaboration with federal agencies.
“Our goal is to provide evidence-based, compassionate, and confidential mental healthcare in an environment that restores dignity to patients. Mental illness should not be treated like a crime or hidden away in shame,” he said.
Dr Oladejo noted that the facility was built to meet international standards, with a strong emphasis on privacy, professionalism, and patient confidentiality.
A major policy gap, she argued, is the absence of routine mental health screening in Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.
“What we are proposing to the federal government is the integration of mental health screening into primary care. When people come for checks like hypertension, diabetes, or antenatal visits, they should also be screened for depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues,” she said.
She explained that such integration would help identify conditions such as postpartum depression early and prevent tragic outcomes.
“Primary healthcare providers should be empowered to start basic treatment immediately instead of waiting for a psychiatrist the patient may never be able to see,” she added.
Dr Oladejo decried the deep-rooted stigma surrounding mental illness, which she said forces families to hide affected relatives rather than seek help.
“In many homes, people with mental illness are locked away in back rooms or taken to villages instead of hospitals. Some are told their conditions are spiritual attacks rather than medical challenges,” she said.
She called for stronger engagement with religious institutions, particularly churches, to improve awareness and encourage early medical intervention.
“Churches have influence. If their leaders are educated about mental health, they can guide their members to seek professional help rather than promote silence and fear,” she noted.
At the media parley, stakeholders questioned Nigeria’s criminalisation of attempted suicide, a law critics say deepens stigma and deters people from seeking help during mental health emergencies.
Seye described the policy as outdated and counterproductive.
“Someone who attempts suicide is not a criminal but a patient in crisis. They need urgent medical and psychological support, not arrest or prosecution,” he said, adding that the centre would actively support advocacy for legal reforms in line with global best practices.
The mental health centre plans to carry out large-scale community outreach, targeting schools, universities, churches, and workplaces.
According to Dr Oladejo, the aim is to address issues such as bullying, substance abuse, anxiety, and attention disorders like ADHD from an early stage.
“If we intervene early in schools, we can reduce online abuse, workplace violence, and broken families. Mental health is not a luxury; it is a national productivity issue,” she said.
She emphasised that untreated mental illnesses reduce workplace output, destabilise families, and place a heavy financial burden on the country.
The centre, which operates on an appointment basis, promises discreet and affordable care.
“Patients can call, book confidentially, and receive care without fear of exposure. We have created a safe, judgment-free environment because mental healthcare must be accessible, respectful, and private,” she said.
Although the facility does not currently admit inpatients, severe cases will be referred to appropriate hospitals while still providing follow-up support.
Dr Oladejo urged the government to place mental health on the same priority level as national security and physical healthcare.
“This is a national issue. If leaders are not mentally well, decision-making is affected. If citizens are not mentally well, society cannot progress,” She noted.
Dr Oladejo concluded by calling for stronger partnerships with government, civil society, and the media to “break the silence” around mental health.
“Until we start talking about this openly, many more lives will be lost unnecessarily. Mental health is health, and Nigeria must treat it as such,” she said.
