Nigeria’s Mental Health Crisis Deepens As NAFDAC Reveals Only 300 Psychiatrists Serve 200 Million Citizens
In a sobering revelation that underscores Nigeria’s deepening mental health crisis, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disclosed that the country has only about 300 psychiatrists catering to a population exceeding 200 million people.
NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, raised the alarm during the 3rd Vanguard Mental Health Summit in Lagos, while calling for urgent investment in mental health infrastructure and manpower, warning that the growing prevalence of depression, substance abuse, and suicide cases could worsen if left unchecked.
Represented by Dr Ramatu Momodu, Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances, Adeyeye said weak regulation, poor access to quality medicines, and the rising abuse of drugs are major contributors to Nigeria’s worsening mental health crisis.
She called for stronger regulation of psychotropic and antidepressant medicines to improve access to safe and effective treatment.
The agency warned that the country records an estimated 16,000 suicide deaths annually, describing suicide as one of the leading causes of death among young people aged 15 to 29 years.
According to the NAFDAC boss, triggers such as depression, unemployment, social isolation, and drug abuse or misuse often drive these tragic outcomes, many of which are preventable with early intervention and access to approved treatment.
“Regulation is not just policy; it is protection, prevention, and preservation of life,” Adeyeye stressed. “Strong regulation builds confidence in the healthcare system and ensures access to safe and effective medicines.”
She emphasised that the agency’s oversight of narcotics and psychotropic substances goes beyond ensuring compliance, it is about saving lives.
Adeyeye, noted that poor regulation can lead to unsafe drug abuse, misuse, and overdose, while quality-assured medicines restore hope and prevent deaths.
The call reinforces growing concern over Nigeria’s mental health gap and the urgent need to strengthen systems that ensure safe access to treatment.
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