As Nigeria grapples with economic recovery, the President of Rotary Club of Ewutuntun, District 9111, Bukola Alamu, has called on Nigerians to prioritise their mental health.
Alamu made the appeal during a press briefing ahead of a mental health seminar organised by the Rotary Club in Lagos on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
1 in 5 Nigerians Affected by Mental Health Disorders — WHO
Guest speaker and Vice President of the Africa World Federation for Mental Health, Mr. Toluse Dove Francis, revealed that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 20% of Nigerians suffer from mental health conditions.
He noted that common disorders include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. In 2017 alone, over 7 million Nigerians experienced depression while about 4.9 million suffered from anxiety.
Francis highlighted the mental toll of insecurity, especially in Nigeria’s North-West region, where kidnappings, bandit attacks, and violence are common. He cited WHO data indicating that nearly 60% of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kaduna show signs of depression, with 16% experiencing definite clinical depression.
He also pointed to growing mental strain on professionals like healthcare workers, teachers, and bankers. Over 70% of primary school teachers in Nigeria reportedly suffer from psychological distress.
Francis decried the dire shortage of mental health professionals, worsened by the mass migration of skilled workers abroad, popularly known as the “Japa syndrome.”
“Nigeria currently has only about 200 psychiatrists and 1,000 psychiatric nurses serving a population of over 200 million,” he stated, noting that global best practices recommend one psychiatrist for every 10,000 people.
Few Certified Psychologists in Nigeria
He further noted that Nigeria has only 319 licensed clinical psychologists registered with the Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP), though estimates suggest the actual number could be around 400–500. However, discrepancies in qualifications, ranging from online certificates to doctoral degrees, make accurate figures hard to determine.
“These numbers are alarming when weighed against our large population,” Francis concluded.
