The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says mental health care needs to be affordable and accessible to young Nigerians, warning that the cost of professional support often prevents young people from seeking help when they need it.
The association also called for the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare, adequate funding for mental health policies and stronger support systems to ensure young people can access care without financial constraints.
Head of the Department of Behavioural Medicine at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Professor Olayinka Atilola, made the call at a Mental Health Summit held in Lagos.
He explained that although government policies may recognise the importance of mental health, young people are more concerned about whether they can access professional counselling and afford the services available to them.
The LASUTH professor described youth mental health as a social problem requiring coordinated action from the government, healthcare professionals, families and educational institutions.
Atilola further called for improved identification of people at risk of mental health challenges, stronger action against substance abuse and efforts to eliminate the stigma associated with seeking professional help.
He urged the government to provide adequate funding for existing mental health policies and encouraged healthcare professionals to approach people experiencing mental health challenges with empathy.
