Silent Epidemic: 32 Million Nigerians Facing Mental Illness Amid Infrastructure Gaps

Depression, anxiety and psychological distress are surging across Nigeria in 2026. Yet with almost no mental health infrastructure, millions suffer in silence. A March 2026 report from the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba and the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria reveals the true scale of this crisis. It highlights a catastrophic gap between the demand for care and the country’s ability to respond. Interviews with psychiatrists, psychologists, community health workers and those living with mental illness paint a harrowing picture. Urgent reforms are needed to address this silent epidemic before more lives are shattered.

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