Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections and former Governor of Anambra State, has raised alarm over the growing mental health crisis in Nigeria, attributing it to the current economic hardship and widespread poverty.
In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account in commemoration of World Mental Health Day, Obi pointed out the severe mental strain many Nigerians are enduring as a result of unemployment, hunger, and general hardship.
Quoting recent data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Obi noted that nearly 40 million Nigerians are currently living with mental health conditions, yet the country has fewer than 300 psychiatrists to provide care, an indication of what he described as “a glaring neglect of the health sector.”
“Mental health is even more important than physical health,” Obi said.
“Nigerians are overwhelmed by economic struggles. The daily fight for survival, unemployment, and poverty have driven many, especially the youth into despair, criminal behavior, and increasing suicide rates.”
He stressed that the crisis has become a public health emergency that must not be ignored.
Obi urged the Nigerian government to make massive investments in mental healthcare infrastructure, including the establishment of psychiatric hospitals in all six geopolitical zones.
Beyond healthcare, he emphasized the urgent need to address poverty, hunger, and joblessness as core drivers of the nation’s mental health challenges.
“A nation’s true progress is not reflected in the wealth of its leaders but in the health and well-being of its people,” he stated.
