The Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (BOF-PSN) has advocated the expansion of community-based mental health care to address the deepening mental health crisis in the country.

BOF-PSN highlighted troubling statistics that point to a national emergency, and urged individuals, communities and the government to prioritise not just their physical health but their mental health and wellbeing.

Speaking ahead of its 2025 Mid-Year Meeting and 7th yearly public lecture, the Chairman BOF-PSN, Uchenna Apakama, described the mental health situation in Nigeria as alarming and severely under-addressed.

He pointed out that the country has fewer than 250 psychiatrists to serve a population of over 200 million, a ratio that falls drastically short of the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of one psychiatrist per 10,000 people.

According to him, this shortage, along with persistent stigma and poor access to services, has left about 80 per cent of those with severe mental health needs without proper care.

In the absence of adequate professional support, he explained, most Nigerians turn to non-orthodox sources for help, including traditional and spiritual healers. Estimates indicate that as much as 70 per cent of mental health treatment is delivered through such informal means. “This is why roughly 70 per cent of mental health care is being handled by traditional and spiritual healers.”

He further linked the rise in mental health conditions to broader socio-economic factors such as poverty, hunger, insecurity, displacement, and inflation. These challenges, he noted, are pushing people from middle-class stability into extreme deprivation, with serious mental health consequences.

He cited everyday stresses such as unpaid salaries, financial inability to meet family needs, and general uncertainty as contributors to emotional distress.

Apakama emphasised that pharmacists are well-positioned to play a greater role in mental health support but require targeted training to do so. He stressed the need to empower pharmacists, especially those operating at the community level, to play a more active role in identifying and supporting individuals with mental health issues.

He said pharmacists trained in drug management, are often the first point of contact for many people and should be further equipped to assist through proper training and government-supported workshops.

“Community pharmacists can help identify early signs, offer counseling, manage medications, and refer patients, but the government needs to provide funding and mental health-specific training,” he said.

The chairman also lamented the gap between policy and practice, pointing to delays in national budget implementation and limited enforcement of the Mental Health Act. Although, the law exists on paper, he said, its provisions are rarely executed in reality.

Apakama explained that BOF-PSN has dedicated this year’s public lecture to mental health, aiming to spotlight the current state of mental illness in Nigeria, the rise of drug and substance abuse, and the underutilised role of pharmacists in addressing the crisis.

The event also seeks to highlight practical strategies for raising mental health awareness and breaking the stigma that keeps many Nigerians from seeking help.

The pharmacist reiterated that raising awareness is key, not just within healthcare settings, but across workplaces, schools, homes, and the wider community and urged the public and government to support mental health reforms by increasing awareness, promoting policies that improve access to care, prioritising self-care, investing in research, and establishing more treatment and rehabilitation centers nationwide.

Apakama maintained that mental health is central to national development and social stability. Without deliberate, sustained action, the crisis will persist, further marginalising vulnerable populations and undermining public health gains.