A significant number of Nigerian doctors are grappling with mental distress, yet only a few can reach professional help due to limited mental health services and the stigma attached to seeking care, the Kwara State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has warned.
At the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Ilorin, State Chairman, Prof Olushola Afolabi, painted a troubling picture of the pressures confronting Nigerian doctors, punishing work schedules, overwhelming patient numbers, inadequate pay, and a rise in workplace aggression.
He disclosed that a recent NMA survey confirmed that a sizable percentage of doctors are already struggling with mental distress.
Yet, only a fraction can access professional support due to a shortage of mental health services and the persistent stigma surrounding psychiatric care.
Former NMA chairman, Prof Issa Awoye, reinforced these concerns by recalling a 2014 study at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, which found that 14.5% of doctors there had diagnosable psychiatric disorders.
“That figure was within a teaching hospital environment, where mental health care is readily available,” he said. “If we repeat the study today, I fear the numbers would be worse.”
To address the crisis, some hospitals have introduced confidential in-house consultations to encourage doctors to seek help without fear of judgement.
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Baba Awoye is urging the federal government to make routine mental health assessments compulsory for medical professionals to enable early detection and treatment.
Prof Afolabi also challenged the media to drive public understanding and dismantle the stigma attached to mental illness in the profession.
“Our healthcare system can only be as strong as the mental and physical well-being of those who sustain it,” he said.
The AGM, themed “Medicine and Entrepreneurship” with the sub-theme “Mental Health and Well-being of Doctors in Nigeria: Importance of Mental Health”, commenced on 10 August with a thanksgiving service.
The programme has so far featured a free medical outreach at the Nigerian Army Sobi Cantonment, offering eye, ENT, and general consultations, as well as free medication.
Events will continue with a hybrid-format Scientific Conference on 13 August, sporting activities from 14–15 August, and the AGM proper on 16 August.
