Mental Health Matters | Nigeria Health Watch

By Nigeria Health Watch | October 17, 2023

Mental Health: A Universal Human Right and a Primary Health Care Priority

Abara Erim and Hadiza Mohammed (Lead Writers) “Mental health is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is not a choice, but a right. It is not a matter of charity, but of justice.” — Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organisation (WHO) World Mental Health Day 2023: ‘Mental Health as a Universal Human Right’ The theme […]

6 Sep

Making Happiness Local: How a Project is Improving Access to Mental Healthcare in Imo State

By Nigeria Health Watch | September 6, 2023

“Do you know that there’s only one psychiatrist in the whole of Imo State?” — This was a line in a post published by Onyekachi Onumara on his Facebook page on the 29th of August 2023. As expected, the post, which he closed with the hashtag #MentalHealthGap, attracted several responses, with many saying it was inaccurate. In […]

21 Jun

African Countries Can Take a Preventive Approach to Mental Health by Prioritising Oral Health

By Nigeria Health Watch | June 21, 2023

By Adekemi Adeniyan and Maymunah Kadiri (Lead Writers) “You are not fully dressed without a smile.” This age-old adage is often used to encourage people to show their happiness and positivity through a smile. While there is no doubt that a smile can be a powerful way to communicate positivity, the message behind this statement […]

5 Jun

The NoCTRAiN Project: Addressing Mental Health Needs in Crisis-Ridden Communities in Plateau State

By Nigeria Health Watch | June 5, 2023

By Patience Adejo and Saidat Azeez Saleh (Lead Writers) Mental health problems often stem from various challenges, including social issues related to loneliness or depression, environmental factors caused by stress, social exclusion, or exposure to violence, as well as psychological factors. In Plateau State, located in North Central Nigeria, an area renowned for its vibrant […]

8 Feb

From the Lunacy Act to the First Mental Health Act in Nigeria: Five Takeaways

By Nigeria Health Watch | February 8, 2023

By Aloysius Ugwu and Beti Baiye In January 2023, a little over six decades after the Lunacy Act of 1958 was established, giving medical practitioners the power to detain people suffering from mental illnesses, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law Nigeria’s first Mental Health Bill, the National Mental Health Act, 2021. The Lunacy Ordinance enacted […]

11 Jul

She Writes Woman: Giving Mental Health a Voice in Nigeria

By Nigeria Health Watch | July 11, 2022

In Nigeria, the road to a mental illness diagnosis is often fraught with shame, stigma and secrecy. People living with mental health conditions need to know that they are not alone and can get professional help. For a significant part of her life, Hauwa Ojeifo had struggled with extreme mood and energy swings, which, coupled […]

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