Mental Health Experts Urge Nigerians to Break Stigma, Seek Help

Mental health experts have urged Nigerians to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and seek professional help when experiencing psychological distress, warning against the tendency to suffer in silence or attribute mental health conditions solely to spiritual causes.

The experts spoke on Saturday at a community awareness programme organised by the Amity Centre for Mental Health to commemorate World Mental Health Day at Gracefield Island, Lekki, Lagos.

The programme featured a community walk, vital signs checks and a Pilates session, highlighting the importance of integrating physical wellness into efforts to promote mental health.

Speaking at the event, the centre’s founder, Dr. Oluwafunmilayo Ilori, who practises in New Jersey, United States, said the initiative was designed to raise awareness of mental health conditions, eliminate stigma and connect people experiencing mental health challenges with available support services.

She said the programme was open to members of the community and was intended to encourage greater understanding of mental illness and reassure affected individuals that help was available.

Ilori explained that the inclusion of a Pilates session was deliberate, noting that physical and mental health were interconnected and should not be treated in isolation.

She said improving public awareness was essential to ensuring that people living with mental health conditions received understanding and appropriate support rather than discrimination.

A mental health advocate at the programme also urged Nigerians to speak openly about their struggles and seek help when necessary.

She described mental health challenges as genuine health concerns that should not attract shame, stressing that people experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties should know that they were not alone.

“It is okay not to be okay sometimes in life, and there is help,” she said.

The advocate expressed concern over the inadequate recognition of postpartum depression in some Nigerian communities, calling for greater awareness of the condition and appropriate support for affected women.

She also urged families and employers to prioritise mental well-being, recognise the importance of taking breaks and create environments where people could discuss their mental health without fear of discrimination.

She maintained that access to mental health support should be regarded as a fundamental human right rather than a privilege.

Also speaking, Dr. Komolafe Ayo identified biological, psychological and social factors as important contributors to mental health conditions.

He explained that biological factors could include genetic predisposition, while psychological factors could involve an individual’s thought processes, ability to cope with stress and exposure to traumatic experiences, including conflict and insurgency.

According to him, social circumstances, family relationships and the availability of support systems could also influence an individual’s mental well-being.

Komolafe further expressed concern about the impact of substance use on mental health, urging greater public awareness of its potential consequences.

He cautioned against attributing mental health conditions exclusively to spiritual causes, explaining that they could arise from a combination of biological, psychological and social factors.

While acknowledging that spirituality could influence how some individuals understood and coped with their experiences, he stressed the importance of recognising the broader factors that contribute to mental health conditions.

He also advised members of the public to pay attention to persistent changes in behaviour, particularly when an individual loses interest in activities previously enjoyed.

He urged families, friends and colleagues to take such changes seriously and encourage affected individuals to seek professional assessment and appropriate care.

World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10 to raise awareness of mental health issues and mobilise efforts to support mental well-being.