A neuropsychiatric expert, Dr. Sunday Sajo, says more than 70 percent of people with mental health challenges in Nigeria lack access to medical treatment.
Sajo, who is the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Akure, stated this during the 2025 World Mental Health Day celebration on Friday in Akure.
The event, themed “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” was organized by the Ondo State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the state’s Neuropsychiatric Hospital.
Sajo expressed concern that mental health issues do not receive the same level of attention as physical health conditions from both policymakers and stakeholders.
He described it as regrettable that many Nigerians are unaware of their mental health status, stressing the importance of awareness campaigns such as the World Mental Health Day.
According to him, the increasing cases of terrorism, kidnapping, and other violent crimes have worsened mental health conditions across the country.
He noted that while victims of such incidents often receive material and food support, their mental well-being is usually ignored.
“Access to mental health care is a right for every Nigerian,” he said, calling on citizens to advocate for improved mental health services nationwide.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, said everyone is affected in one way or another by mental health challenges.
Ikuomola, who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Stephen Fagbemi, commended the Neuropsychiatric Hospital for its continuous efforts in tackling mental health issues in the state.
He noted that mental health care remains one of the most neglected aspects of healthcare, with few partners supporting the government.
The Permanent Secretary applauded the Ondo State Contributory Health Insurance Commission for including mental health coverage in its scheme.
He further stressed the need to provide mental health services during emergency responses, urging Nigerians to refrain from posting pictures of disaster victims on social media to avoid causing emotional trauma to affected families.
“We must learn to protect the identities of families involved in emergencies so that people will not suffer additional emotional distress,” he said.
He added that people with mental health challenges, as well as frontline emergency workers, are often among the most vulnerable during crises.
Similarly, the Programme Officer in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Stephen Adesida, said mental health is central to overall well-being, emphasizing that “without mental health, there is no health.”
He urged Nigerians to stop discriminating against people with mental health conditions, noting that “any part of the body, including the brain, can fall ill.”
In her remarks, the Deputy Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ondo State, Mrs. Yetunde Jeyfous, encouraged people to prioritize their mental well-being.
She advised those struggling with mental health issues or drug addiction to seek professional help and urged the public to foster open conversations about mental health.
Other partners, including APIN Public Health Initiative, Solidify Epilepsy Foundation, and Slum and Rural Health Initiative, also called on governments and communities to give greater attention to mental health in Nigeria.
