Health
Mental Health in Nigeria, is it Recognised?
By Timi Olubiyi, PhD
It is safe to say Nigeria’s economy has undergone transformations in recent times, characterised by overambitious reforms aimed at stabilising the macroeconomic environment.
However, these changes have also introduced challenges that directly affect the daily lives of Nigerians.
As of March 2025, Nigeria’s annual inflation rate rose again to 24.23%, up from 23.18% in February 2025, even though it had reached a high of 34.8% in December 2024. Higher food prices and the cost of living primarily contribute to this increase.
Additionally, petrol price has experienced a 488% increase from N175 in May 2023 at the resumption of the current administration to N1,030 in October 2024, even though it currently trades around N950.
The removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira have further exacerbated inflationary pressures, leading to increased costs for imported goods and services. The removal of the fuel subsidies has significantly increased operational expenses for businesses, leading to higher prices for goods and services. This situation has led to significant hardship, and it has also made it difficult for many Nigerians to sustain livelihoods, especially those in low-income brackets.
No doubt, the economic challenges continue to have profound effects on mental health, livelihood and well-being. This is in a country where the cost of medicines, in some cases, has risen significantly, with a more than tenfold increase in price.
Mental health is a big issue in all of this, and it is largely disregarded—it is the core of how we experience and navigate our daily activities. Whether in the workplace, market, family, or among friends, the current economic woes do affect our emotional and psychological well-being regardless.
Mental health issues can affect anyone regardless of your age, gender, geography, income, social status, race, ethnicity, or religion. Mental illnesses are health disorders characterised by changes in feelings, thinking, or behaviour, or a combination thereof.
Mental health issues may be linked to discomfort and/or difficulties in professional, social, or family functioning. It determines the quality of overall health, relationships, decisions, security and well-being. The influence of mental health has become undeniably clear in the realms of business, family, and social life in Nigeria.
In Lagos State, for instance, it is a high-pressured environment; many spend long hours to get to work, employers give unrealistic expectations, and job insecurity can create chronic stress, mental health issues and physical illness.
Many can still remember the recent occurrence where some employees in Lagos State who work on the island and live on the mainland of the state experienced long hours in traffic that kept some in Lagos Island at 2am in traffic due to road closures and road maintenance. Such employees are more likely to experience depression or burnout, which can make them underperform. It may even lead to having some chronic issues around their mental health, even though many hardly accept this fact.
In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy a lot. For employees, records have shown that symptoms of mental illness may include difficulty concentrating, absenteeism, emotional exhaustion, or a lack of motivation to even socialize. For entrepreneurs and executives, the stakes are different but equally significant.
The loneliness at the top, coupled with financial and operational pressures, can lead to decision fatigue and emotional instability.
At home, mental health is deeply integrated in attitudes of married couples and families it often leads to strain in communication and tension in the household, and it can lead to emotional withdrawal or even manifest in conflicts.
The high rate of unemployment and joblessness in our country can also contribute to mental health issues in households. However, a parent’s mental health condition significantly shapes the emotional environment in the home and how children grow up.
Humans are social beings, and decent work can contribute to recovery, even though in Nigeria, like many parts in Africa, we fail to recognise the significant impact of mental health on businesses, families and social lives.
More so our need for connection, acceptance, and belonging is deeply rooted in our psychological recognition that mental health is real. Mental health shapes how we interact with others, and our social interactions, in turn, influence our mental health.
So, when mental health is compromised, therefore the ability to form and maintain healthy relationships are also compromised. Depression can result in social withdrawal, anxiety can lead someone to avoid gatherings or become overly self-conscious, and trauma can lead to difficulty trusting others. As a result, people often find themselves isolated during their most vulnerable moments—when support is most needed.
In all, a supportive family can be a powerful buffer against mental health struggles.Therefore, in my opinion, it is crucial to normalise mental health discussions in workplaces, families, and friendship groups to promote understanding and encourage self-care.
In the professional world, success is often measured by tangible outcomes: revenue, promotions, deadlines met, and goals achieved. But beneath the surface of performance metrics lies a crucial, often invisible factor—mental health. Because we are in a world that often prioritises and celebrates output over well-being, re-centering mental health is not just an act of care—it is more than important in the current dispensation for more work-life balance, longevity and a successful life. Good luck!
How may you obtain advice or further information on the article?
Dr Timi Olubiyi is an entrepreneurship and business management expert with a PhD in Business Administration from Babcock University, Nigeria. He is a prolific investment coach, author, seasoned scholar, chartered member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), and a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered capital market operator. He can be reached on the Twitter handle @drtimiolubiyi and via email: [email protected], for any questions, reactions, and comments.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, Dr Timi Olubiyi, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of others.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The decision of the management of SUNU Health Nigeria Limited to adopt the strategy of placing the enrollee and customer at the heart of its operations has started to pay off.
The company was recently announced as Most Customer-Focused Health Insurance Company of the Year at the Customer Service Standard Magazine Awards 2025.
The recognition underscored the company’s success in translating its dedication into tangible enrollee satisfaction and superior market service at the Nigerian Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) landscape.
It also highlights the organisation’s dedicated efforts in streamlining claims processing, enhancing access to quality healthcare providers, and maintaining transparent, responsive communication channels with its diverse client base across Nigeria.
The accolade further serves as a powerful testament to the successful integration of digital solutions and human-centric service models at SUNU Health.
It positions the firm as a leader not only in providing robust health plans but also in delivering the supportive, personalized care that enrollees truly value.
“Clinching the Most Customer-Focused Health Insurance Company of the Year award is not just an honour; it is a validation of the core philosophy that drives every member of the SUNU Health team.
“We believe that healthcare is fundamentally a service industry, and our success is measured by the well-being and satisfaction of our enrollees,” the chief executive of SUNU Health, Mr Patrick Korie, commented.
“This award reinforces our resolve to continuously innovate and set new benchmarks for customer experience in the Nigerian health insurance sector.
“Our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality, and seamless healthcare solutions remains our top priority as we move into the new year (2026),” he added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has launched its first nationally representative survey on antimicrobial resistance to generate critical data to guide evidence-based policies, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen health system resilience.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist treatment, making infections harder to cure.
As a result, surveillance is essential to track resistance patterns, identify priority pathogens, and guide targeted interventions and with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, the initiative marks a milestone in the country’s public health response.
Nigeria becomes the third country globally to partner with WHO on a national antimicrobial resistance survey. having been selected based on the country’s strong commitment to AMR surveillance, its updated WHO Nigeria NAP 2.0, and readiness to expand laboratory and data systems.
Africa’s most populous country ranks 20th globally for age-standardized mortality due to antimicrobial resistance . In 2019, an estimated 263,400 deaths in Nigeria were linked to it—more than the combined deaths from enteric infections, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, maternal and neonatal disorders, neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and cardiovascular diseases.
Globally, resistant infections in tertiary care settings cost between $2,371 and $29,289 per patient episode, extend hospital stays by an average of 7.4 days, and increase mortality risk by 84 per cent.
The survey will see the establishment of a national baseline on antimicrobial resistance prevalence to monitor interventions, assess the distribution, burden (morbidity, mortality, DALYs, cost), and diversity of AMR across regions and populations, as well as contribute to the global target of reducing AMR deaths by 10 per cent by 2030, in line with the political declaration endorsed at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in 2024.
It also seeks to strengthen routine antimicrobial resistance surveillance, including diagnostics, sample referral systems, and laboratory capacity.
Using WHO’s standardized methodology, the survey will run for 12–15 months and cover 40–45 randomly selected health facilities nationwide. Patients with suspected bloodstream infections (BSIs) will be identified using standard case definitions, and blood samples will be analysed in quality-assured laboratories.
Data will be collected across all age groups, covering clinical, demographic, laboratory, financial, and outcome indicators. Follow-up will occur at discharge, 28 days, and three months post-infection. The survey will sample approximately 35,000 patients suspected of BSIs to obtain around 800 isolates of the most common pathogens.
Dr Tochi Okwor, Acting Head, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said, “With WHO’s support, we are confident the survey will generate the evidence needed to protect public health.”
WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, reaffirmed WHO’s commitment stating that ,“Nigeria is taking a decisive step toward combating AMR with an approach grounded in data, science, and measurable impact. This survey will provide the clarity needed to drive smarter policies, stronger surveillance, and better patient outcomes. Nigeria is laying the foundations for a resilient health system, one that protects lives, strengthens trust, and ensures that essential medicines remain effective for future generations.”
Adding her input, Dr Laetitia Gahimbare, Technical Officer at WHO Regional Office for Africa, added:“Strengthening surveillance enhances Nigeria’s capacity to detect and respond to AMR threats, supporting better patient outcomes, reinforcing health security, and building a resilient system.”
Professor Babatunde Ogunbosi, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist at University College Hospital, Ibadan, highlighted the broader impact:, “This survey is about more than data. It’s about building national capacity for research, diagnostics, and policy. It integrates science into public health decision-making.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the leading Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) in Nigeria, SUNU Health, has said its philosophy is proactive wellness, noting that this was why it recently partnered with The Divine Physician and St. Luke Catholic Chaplaincy Centre for a community health initiative.
The chief executive of the company, Dr Patrick Korie, said, “SUNU Health’s vision extends far beyond merely offering health packages and insurance.”
“We are fundamentally interested in proactive wellness—preventing illness rather than just treating it. This annual exercise is a crucial part of that commitment, and we will continue to champion it for as long as we exist,” he stressed.
The medical practitioner led the company’s annual Health Walk in Lagos on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The event drew hundreds of health enthusiasts, including the Chaplain of the centre, Rev Fr. John Okoria SJ.
His active participation reinforced the spiritual and moral commitment to holistic well-being, proving crucial in mobilizing staff and community members, thereby ensuring the vital wellness message reached a broad and deeply engaged audience.
The health walk covered several major streets in Lagos, starting from Ishaga Road and navigating through Itire Road, Randle Avenue, Akerele, Ogunlana Drive, and Workers Street before concluding back at the starting point. Following the vigorous walk, participants engaged in a session of high-energy aerobics and other outdoor exercises, reinforcing the day’s focus on fitness.
“We are delighted to champion this vital health initiative alongside the Catholic Chaplaincy Centre LUTH/CMUL. The turnout was truly delightful, reflecting the community’s deep desire to embrace wellness.
“Collaborations like this amplify our message and commitment to the Nigerian community,” the Brand and Corporate Communications Lead at SUNU Health, Mr Samuel Olayemi, stated.
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