By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA | Media360Impact Report
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Federal Government to increase funding for mental healthcare, expand access to treatment and protect Nigerians living with mental health conditions from discrimination, violence and abuse.
The commission said mental health should be treated not only as a medical concern but also as a fundamental human rights issue requiring urgent attention from government, healthcare providers, civil society organisations and communities.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, OFR, made the call in Abuja on Monday as part of activities marking the 2026 World Mental Health Day.
Ojukwu stressed that people experiencing mental health conditions deserved dignity, equality, respect and access to appropriate care, warning that their conditions should never be used to justify neglect, discrimination or exclusion.
He cited Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which recognises the right to the best attainable state of physical and mental health.
According to him, Nigeria must ensure that its laws and policies translate into affordable treatment, effective protection and better outcomes for people requiring mental healthcare.
NHRC raises concern over access to treatment
The commission expressed concern about the financial and social barriers preventing many Nigerians from accessing mental health services.
Ojukwu cited World Health Organisation evidence indicating that fewer than three per cent of people with mental health conditions in Nigeria were covered by health insurance, leaving many individuals and families struggling to pay for treatment and related support.
He also referred to global estimates showing that mental health conditions affect a substantial proportion of the world’s population, with poverty, violence, inequality and disability increasing the risks for vulnerable groups.
The NHRC said Nigeria’s challenges were particularly serious in communities affected by terrorism, conflict, abductions, displacement and other humanitarian emergencies.
People exposed to violence and human rights violations often experience psychological distress that can affect their relationships, daily activities and ability to participate fully in society, Ojukwu said.
He warned that people living with mental health conditions continued to face stigma, discrimination, neglect and exclusion from education, employment, housing and community life.
Some, he added, were denied the opportunity to make decisions about their lives or subjected to treatment that undermined their dignity and fundamental rights.
FG urged to implement Mental Health Act
Ojukwu acknowledged Nigeria’s existing legal and policy frameworks, including the National Mental Health Act, 2021, which received presidential assent in December 2022, the National Mental Health Policy and the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework.
However, he said the existence of legislation and policy documents was not enough without effective implementation, accessible services and accountability for violations.
The commission called for the expansion of affordable, community-based mental health services, including their integration into primary healthcare centres.
It also urged the government to strengthen health insurance coverage and recruit, train and deploy more qualified professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, psychiatric nurses and social workers.
The NHRC further called for stronger safeguards against abuse in mental health facilities and better support for children and adults with psychosocial disabilities.
“A mental-health condition does not reduce a person’s worth, dignity or human rights,” Ojukwu said, emphasising the need to treat affected persons as individuals entitled to respect and protection.
NHRC expands support for vulnerable Nigerians
The executive secretary said the commission had established a Counselling Unit at its headquarters to provide emotional support to people affected by human rights violations and traumatic experiences.
The unit also supports NHRC staff dealing with distressing cases involving violence, abuse, loss and suffering.
He said the commission’s Human Rights Institute had organised training programmes to help investigation officers identify mental health and psychosocial concerns, respond appropriately to vulnerable complainants and recognise cases requiring professional intervention.
The NHRC’s Vulnerable Group Department, he added, had also strengthened the commission’s capacity to address the needs and rights of vulnerable populations.
Ojukwu disclosed that the commission was working with stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to incorporate human rights considerations into the proposed National Mental Health Strategic Plan for 2027–2032.
He described the proposed plan as an important step towards a more coordinated national response to mental health challenges.
The commission has also participated in training organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on drug prevention, treatment and care, with attention to the links between substance use, mental health and human rights.
Ojukwu said the NHRC, in partnership with the Taipei Trade Office and civil society organisations, had provided grants and free mental health sessions to some indigent women who were victims of human rights violations.
He also cited interventions involving people with psychosocial and psychological disabilities in Kano State, including children and adults who had been subjected to solitary confinement before being moved to a welfare facility following the commission’s intervention.
In another case in the Federal Capital Territory, he said the commission rescued a child from a woman living in extremely distressing and inhumane conditions linked to her mental state.
He said such cases demonstrated the need for professional care, family support and protective interventions rather than punishment, abandonment or abuse.
NGO seeks stronger enforcement of mental health laws
In a goodwill message, the founder of the Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative, Ameh Zion, called for stronger implementation of Nigeria’s mental health legislation and increased collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations and development partners.
Zion said people experiencing depression, psychosis, trauma and psychosocial disabilities should not lose their dignity or fundamental rights because of their conditions.
He expressed concern about stigma, inadequate services and shortages of trained professionals, which he said continued to prevent many Nigerians from receiving appropriate care.
He also highlighted the psychological effects of terrorism, violence, displacement and abuse, noting that survivors often experienced lasting distress while families and caregivers faced emotional and financial pressures without adequate institutional support.
Zion urged stakeholders to move beyond awareness campaigns and ensure that existing laws and policies resulted in practical protections and accessible services across the country.
He called for collaboration between the NHRC, the Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative and African mental health reform stakeholders in areas such as public awareness, institutional training, psychosocial support for survivors, referral systems and policy advocacy.
He also urged stakeholders to establish clear priorities, responsibilities and measurable outcomes to close the gap between policy commitments and the experiences of people seeking care.
Media, communities urged to tackle stigma
Ojukwu called for stronger mental health and psychosocial support for survivors of terrorism, conflict, gender-based violence, trafficking, torture, displacement and other serious human rights violations.
He urged schools, workplaces, families and communities to create supportive environments where people could discuss mental health concerns and seek help without fear of rejection or discrimination.
Religious and traditional leaders, he said, should complement professional healthcare rather than replace clinical treatment when it was necessary.
The NHRC executive secretary also urged journalists and media organisations to report mental health issues accurately, respectfully and sensitively, warning against narratives that reinforce stereotypes and stigma.
He said the commission would continue to promote awareness, investigate human rights violations, protect vulnerable persons and advocate policies that uphold the dignity and rights of all Nigerians.
Ojukwu maintained that Nigeria could not fully protect human dignity while people requiring mental healthcare continued to suffer in silence, face discrimination or remain unable to access treatment.
He called for a national mental health system that ensures affected persons are not abandoned, families receive adequate support and access to treatment is recognised as an essential part of the right to health.
Source: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), statement marking the 2026 World Mental Health Day.
