Dr. Olajide Calls for Emergency on Nigeria's Mental Health Crisis

Medical experts have called on the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria to declare a state of emergency regarding substance abuse, warning that the increasing trend poses a serious threat to the nation's mental health. Dr. Abayomi Olajide, a consultant psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Aro, Abeokuta, and chairman of the Mental Health Action Committee in Ogun State, stated that the current economic hardships, unemployment, insecurity, and poverty have exacerbated mental health disorders.

He noted that the situation has reached epidemic levels, with one in four Nigerians previously estimated to live with mental health challenges, a figure that has worsened due to social vices. Dr. Olajide lamented the limited access to mental healthcare, indicating that less than 10 percent of those with mental health conditions receive care, primarily due to out-of-pocket expenses and inadequate health insurance coverage.

He urged the government to prioritize mental health services, improve access to care, and ensure adequate funding and treatment facilities.