Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is confronting a significant but largely invisible mental health crisis.
Recent estimates suggest that about 50 million Nigerians are living with mental illness, yet more than 75% receive no treatment or support due to gaps in the health system, stigma, and resource shortages. �
In response, authorities have moved to strengthen the legal and policy framework. Over the last three years, Nigeria has updated its National Mental Health Policy (2023), developed a National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework, and reaffirmed the principles of its 2021 Mental Health Act — intended to expand access, protect rights, and integrate services into mainstream health care. �
Despite these gains, implementation remains uneven. Fewer than 3% of people with mental health conditions are covered by health insurance, and services outside major urban centres are extremely limited. Public health leaders emphasize the urgency of decriminalizing suicide and integrating mental health indicators into national health planning to drive sustainable improvements
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