One Billion People Affected by Mental Illness, Women Most Impacted

Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, a past president of the Medical Women’s International Association, addressed the alarming statistic that one billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions, with women and girls bearing a disproportionate share of this burden due to violence and discrimination.

Speaking at the 1st Women Derivative Mathematical Model Mental Health Wealth Conference and the 2nd Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference in Ibadan, she urged governments to shift focus from merely treating mental illness to investing in preventive measures throughout women's lives. Nwadinobi disclosed that women are 1.5 times more likely than men to experience depression, with 10% of pregnant women and new mothers suffering from mental health disorders.

She identified critical stages requiring targeted interventions, including early childhood, adolescence, reproductive years, and midlife. Other experts, including Professor Olayinka Omigbodun and Professor Temidayo Ogundiran, echoed the need for collaborative efforts to address the growing mental health burden among adolescents, particularly young women in Sub-Saharan Africa.