Mental health specialists are calling on the Nigerian government to treat mental health with the same urgency as national security and physical healthcare.
Dr. Oluwatoyin Oladejo, a US-trained healthcare entrepreneur and Co-CEO of Kings Psychiatry, a Lagos-based mental health outpatient facility, warned that Nigeria is facing a silent mental health crisis. Speaking at the launch of the new facility, Oladejo said stigma, poor policy integration, and a severe shortage of specialists are worsening the problem.
“This is a national issue. If our leaders and citizens are not mentally well, decision-making suffers and society cannot progress,” Oladejo said. “We must start talking about mental health openly. Many lives are lost unnecessarily because mental health is still treated as a taboo.”
Oladejo proposed that mental health screenings be integrated into primary healthcare. Routine visits for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, or antenatal care could also screen for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Early detection, she said, could prevent tragic outcomes and reduce long-term costs for individuals, families, and the nation.
“Primary healthcare providers should be empowered to offer immediate basic treatment instead of waiting for a psychiatrist, who may be difficult for patients to access,” she added. “Early intervention in schools can also reduce online abuse, workplace violence, and family breakdowns. Mental health is not a luxury — it is a national productivity issue.”
Seye Oladejo, Lagos APC Publicity Secretary and Co-CEO of Kings Psychiatry, highlighted the severe shortage of mental health professionals in Nigeria, noting that fewer than 300 psychiatrists serve the entire country. He also criticized the criminalization of attempted suicide.
“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 Kings Psychiatry would advocate for legal reforms aligned with global best practices.
Kings Psychiatry, which meets international standards for privacy and patient confidentiality, will offer outpatient psychiatric evaluations, counseling, psychotherapy, substance use treatment, and crisis intervention. Appointments are required to ensure discreet, affordable care.
The centre plans extensive community outreach, targeting schools, workplaces, and places of worship to address bullying, substance abuse, anxiety, and attention disorders from an early stage. Oladejo emphasized the role of faith-based organizations in guiding communities to seek professional mental health care.
A major gap, she said, is the lack of routine mental health screening in Nigeria’s primary healthcare system. Deep-rooted stigma forces families to hide affected relatives instead of seeking help, worsening the nation’s mental health crisis.
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