By Daniel Kokona
Every May, the world observes Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to confront the stigma and silence surrounding mental illness. This year’s theme: “In Every Story, There’s Strength” is a reminder that behind every struggle with mental health lies courage, resilience, and the power of healing.
Mental health is a global concern. Hence the global recognition it demands. In Nigeria, where mental illness is still largely misunderstood or dismissed, this message could not be timelier.
Nigeria’s Mental Health Challenge: What the Numbers Say Globally, the World Health Organization, WHO, estimates that one in four people will experience a mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lives. Although Nigeria lacks comprehensive national data, this global projection suggests that tens of millions of Nigerians may be affected.
Even more alarming, according to WHO and multiple mental health reports, less than 10% of Nigerians living with mental health conditions have access to professional care. The rest often turn into informal or spiritual alternatives or suffer in silence.
With fewer than 300 psychiatrists serving a population of over 200 million, Nigeria faces a serious mental health crisis. Most facilities are clustered in major cities, leaving rural communities with little to no access to help.
Recognizing the signs/symptoms
Mental illness wears many faces, and it does not always show up as the dramatic breakdowns we often imagine, it rarely looks the way we expect.
Often, it is quiet, showing up as deep sadness that lingers, a growing desire to be alone, or a sudden loss of interest in things once loved.
A cheerful friend may begin to withdraw. A once-vibrant colleague may start showing up late, distracted, or unusually tired. These could be signs of depression.
But not all mental health struggles wear the same face. Someone with bipolar disorder might swing from a period of unusual energy and excitement, talking fast, taking risks, barely sleeping into a season of heavy silence, guilt, and exhaustion. Anxiety can sneak in too, often hidden behind restlessness, racing thoughts, or constant worry that something might go wrong. Sometimes, it is felt in the body before the mind even catches on through headaches, stomach upsets, or a pounding heart.
Other times, it is harder to explain. A person may begin hearing or seeing things others do not, or struggle to make sense of their thoughts, signs we might associate with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. And in children, these struggles might appear as changes in school performance, sudden aggression, or being unusually clingy or withdrawn.
The truth is that mental illness is not always obvious. But behind the silence, the changes, or even the smiles, someone may be hurting. The more we understand the many ways it can show up, the better we can reach out with compassion, not judgment.
Understanding the risk factors
While mental illness can have genetic or biological roots, Nigeria’s harsh socio-economic such as poverty and unemployment, insecurity and trauma from displacement or violence, substance abuse, particularly among youth (tramadol, codeine, crystal meth), cultural stigma and spiritual beliefs and a deeply underfunded healthcare system.
In every story, there’s strength
This year’s theme reminds us that mental illness is not the end of a person’s story; it is part of it. Behind every diagnosis is a person who is trying, every single day, to keep going. Whether it is a teenager managing anxiety while finishing school, a Corp member wondering what next after one year service to their fatherland, a parent dealing with depression while supporting their family, or a survivor of trauma choosing to speak up, there is strength in all of it.
By acknowledging and sharing these stories, we do not just raise awareness; we offer hope and solidarity.
Some progress, but more work needed
In 2023, Nigeria took a positive step by passing the Mental Health Act, which replaced the outdated Lunacy Act of 1958. The new law recognizes mental health as a human rights issue and seeks to integrate mental health care into the primary healthcare system.
Still, real progress requires more than legislation. We need funding, public education, trained professionals, and community-based support.
What you can do
Learn about mental health from credible sources, books, podcasts, trusted websites, or local workshops. The more you know, the more you can help.
Speak up to challenge myths and stigma in everyday conversations at home, in school, or at work. A simple conversation can shift perspectives.
Practice empathy over judgment. Try to listen without rushing to advise or correct, sometimes, what people need most is to feel heard.
Support mental health efforts in your community, whether by donating, volunteering, or simply sharing helpful resources online.
Final thoughts
Mental illness is not a flaw. It is not a weakness. It is a health condition, and with the right support, it can be treated and managed.
Getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness. If you or someone you know is struggling, do not stay silent. Seek help from qualified healthcare providers such as psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, or medical social workers. You can visit a teaching hospital, a neuropsychiatry hospital, or a reputable private mental health facility.
Support is closer than you think. Healing begins when we reach out, and recovery becomes possible when we are met with empathy and understanding.
No one should go through it alone. Mental illness can be treated and managed. There is help, and there is hope.
• Dr Kokona is a clinical psychologist at Garki Hospital, Abuja