𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 — 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬

Nigerian psychiatrists have raised fresh concerns that rising economic hardship, unemployment and poor access to mental healthcare are intensifying the country’s mental health burden, leaving many citizens without support.

Speaking at a mental-health stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, the experts warned that the current economic pressure — including soaring living costs, job losses and financial instability — has triggered a surge in depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicidal behaviour, especially among young adults.

A consultant psychiatrist at the event said many patients are now presenting with severe symptoms because they can no longer afford routine treatment, medications or follow-up visits. According to her, the combination of stress and limited access to care “is pushing vulnerable Nigerians to breaking point.”

They also lamented that Nigeria still has fewer than 300 psychiatrists serving over 200 million people, describing the gap as alarming and unsustainable. Many facilities, they added, lack essential equipment, medications and trained personnel despite the rising number of mental-health cases.

The experts urged the Federal Government to fully implement the Mental Health Act, increase funding for psychiatric services, integrate mental-health support into primary healthcare centres, and expand community-based interventions to reach rural populations.

They further appealed for public awareness campaigns to help Nigerians understand mental health, recognise early warning signs and seek help without stigma.