Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over the rising mental health crisis in Nigeria, saying many citizens, especially the youth, are now suffering mental stress due to worsening economic hardship.
Obi made this known in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, October 10, as the world marked World Mental Health Day. He said poverty, hunger, and unemployment are pushing many Nigerians into depression, hopelessness, crime, and even suicide.
According to Obi, the mental health crisis is becoming a serious public health emergency that the Nigerian government can no longer ignore.
“Nigerians are now feeling so overwhelmed by hardship that they are mentally affected,” he wrote. “The government must treat this as a public health emergency.”
He cited a World Health Organisation (WHO) report which estimates that about 40 million Nigerians are currently living with various mental health conditions. He expressed concern that Nigeria does not have enough mental health professionals to handle the growing problem.
“The WHO’s report clearly shows Nigeria’s growing neglect of its health sector,” he said. “Mental health is even more important than physical health because it affects how people think, feel, and act.”
Obi stressed that Nigeria urgently needs to invest in mental health services by employing more trained professionals and building modern psychiatric hospitals across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
He also pointed out that mental health challenges cannot be separated from the high rate of poverty and economic instability in the country.
“We must address the root causes of this crisis — poverty, unemployment, and hunger,” Obi said. “Until we fix these problems, our people will continue to suffer in silence.”
Obi noted that mental illness affects not just individuals but families and communities as well. He urged the government to prioritise human capital development, stating that the true measure of a nation’s progress is the well-being of its people.
“Nigeria’s progress will never be measured by the wealth of its leaders but by human capital — the health and happiness of its people,” he said.
Nigeria is currently battling high inflation, rising food prices, and a surge in unemployment. Many Nigerians are struggling to afford basic needs, and reports of depression and suicide are on the rise.
Despite the growing mental health crisis, Nigeria has fewer than 300 psychiatrists for a population of over 200 million, according to the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria. This leaves millions without access to professional help.
World Mental Health Day, marked every year on October 10, is aimed at raising awareness about mental health issues and promoting efforts to support mental well-being. Obi’s message adds to growing calls for urgent attention to the mental health of Nigerians in these tough times.
