Health
Experts Identify Stigma, Drug Abuse As Mental Health Challenges
Mental health experts at Karu General Hospital (KGH), Abuja, have identified stigma, misconceptions and drug abuse among youths as major challenges affecting mental healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The experts spoke during an awareness walk organised by the hospital’s Behavioural Medicine Unit (BMU) to mark the 2026 World Mental Health Day on Friday in Abuja.
The walk was to mark the 2026 World Mental Health Day with the theme: “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices Real Change”.
The experts called for increased awareness, early treatment, improved healthcare services and greater government support to address mental health challenges across the country.
Dr Chibuzo Anoji, consultant psychiatrist and head of BMU, said mental health awareness remained low, as many Nigerians still believed mental illness resulted from spiritual attacks.
She said such beliefs often delayed treatment, as some patients visited Churches and prayer houses before seeking professional medical assistance.
Anoji emphasised that mental illnesses were treatable and deserved the same attention as other health conditions.
She identified substance abuse as a growing concern among young Nigerians, warning that it contributed to mental health problems.
The psychiatrist said fear of discrimination and negative public reactions also discouraged many people from seeking professional help.
She advised Nigerians to seek medical attention when they noticed unusual behavioural changes in family members or friends, particularly when such changes affected daily activities.
Anoji said warning signs could include social withdrawal, unusual speech, changes in perception and difficulty performing routine activities.
She also expressed concern over the shortage of mental health professionals, partly caused by the migration of healthcare workers abroad.
She said implementing the Mental Health Act would improve access to care through community-based services and training primary healthcare workers to identify mental health conditions early.
Also speaking, Dr Emmanuela Ego, a psychiatrist at KGH, identified peer pressure, family problems, drug availability and environmental influences as factors encouraging substance abuse among youths.
Ego said adolescents were particularly vulnerable because their brains were still developing, making them more susceptible to experimenting with drugs and following their peers.
She added that economic hardship and stress could also contribute to mental health problems.
The psychiatrist urged parents and schools to monitor behavioural changes among young people and collaborate with relevant authorities to reduce access to illegal drugs.
She said early identification of mental health problems among children could prevent untreated conditions from persisting into adulthood.
Dr Hadiza Mustapha, chief consultant psychiatrist at KGH, called for increased public awareness, funding and improved hospital facilities, noting that the hospital needed more psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and psychologists.
Mustapha urged Nigerians to seek professional help early.
Dr Pius Lawan Wabbas, chief nursing officer and head of BMU’s Outpatient Department, encouraged people with mental health conditions to speak out and seek treatment without fear of discrimination.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the experts urged the government, schools, communities and media organisations to promote mental health awareness, improve staffing and ensure effective implementation of mental health policies.(NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
