The Ogun State Government in Nigeria has expressed concern over the rising number of mental‑health patients, with more than 10,000 cases recorded in the first half of 2025. According to the Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, the burden of mental illness is real and growing, with nearly 1,000 new patients seeking help during this period. She made the revelation during a briefing to commemorate World Mental Health Day 2025, themed “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.”
Coker, represented by her Permanent Secretary, Dr. Oladehinde Kayode, emphasized that mental health is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. She noted that in Nigeria more than 90 % of people living with mental illness lack access to proper care. Data from the state’s four service points in Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, Ilaro and Ota showed that the most common conditions treated were psychosis, neurosis, epilepsy, depression and substance‑use disorders.
The commissioner stressed that the government cannot address the issue alone and urged employers, families and community leaders to create supportive environments and promote access to care. She reassured residents that they are not alone and that the government is committed to providing assistance. Coker highlighted the impact of natural disasters, disease outbreaks, insecurity and conflicts on mental health, which leave deep psychological scars, and affirmed that there is no health without mental health, especially in times of crisis.
To tackle the problem, the state has inaugurated a 26‑member mental‑health committee chaired by Dr. Olajide Abayomi, a consultant psychiatrist. The committee’s mandate is to raise awareness and mobilise communities toward greater mental‑health access. As the world marks World Mental Health Day 2025, the Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a state where mental‑health services are accessible, affordable and acceptable to all.
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