A neuropsychiatric expert, Sunday Sajo, says that over 70 per cent of people with mental health challenges in Nigeria have no access to medical treatment.

Mr Sajo, the chief medical director (CMD) of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Akure, stated this at the 2025 World Mental Health Day celebration on Friday in Akure.

The program tagged “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies” was organised by the state Ministry of Health and the state Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Akure.

He said that it was worrisome that the stakeholders and authorities did not give as much attention to mental health as they did to physical health.

The CMD said it was regrettable that many Nigerians were not knowledgeable about their mental health; hence, the need for the celebration.

According to him, the rise in terrorism, kidnapping, and other high-profile criminalities has increased the level of mental health challenges.

Mr Sajo noted that when such victims of such criminalities were being supported with items, food, and other things, their mental health was being neglected.

He also said mental health was a right of every Nigerian, urging all and sundry to be advocates for the provision of mental health.

Also, the permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Adeniran Ikuomola, said that everyone was being affected one way or another by mental health challenges.

Mr Ikuomola, represented by Stephen Fagbemi, the director of public health, appreciated the neuropsychiatric hospital for its efforts to address mental health challenges.

He commended the state contributory health insurance commission for offering coverage for mental health.

The permanent secretary said that during emergency response, there should be provision of mental health facilities.

He enjoined Nigerians to desist from posting pictures of victims of emergencies to prevent emotional trauma and mental challenges for their relatives.

“We should learn how to protect the identities of families involved in an emergency so that people will not suffer emotional challenges.

“Also, people with mental health challenges are most vulnerable in times of emergencies, as well as frontline workers called responders,” he said.

Similarly, the programme officer in the ministry, Stephen Adesida, said, “There should be no need for discrimination against persons with mental health challenges because any part of the body can be sick.”

In her remarks, Yetunde Jeyfous, deputy commandant of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state, urged everyone to prioritise their mental health and well-being.

Ms Jeyfous advised anyone with mental health challenges to seek help, asking society to encourage open conversations about mental health and support those struggling with drug addiction.

Other partners, such as the APIN Public Health Initiative, the Soladeff Epilepsy Foundation, and the Slum and Rural Health Initiative, also encouraged the society and governments to pay more attention to mental health.

(NAN)