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According to the World Health Organisation, one in four Nigerians has a mental illness. The same health body also estimates that one in four people globally will have a mental illness at some point in their lives. Nigeria has about 300 psychiatrists catering to its teeming 200 million-strong population. With statistics such as these, many young people requiring mental health care are unable to access it, exacerbating their condition.
To highlight the importance of seeking professional mental health care, I spoke to five young Nigerians with mental health conditions about their experiences with medication.
Tobi, Male, 25
I was in school for an important exam and I found out I couldn’t read or remember anything I had read. It was quite difficult to fall asleep and I woke up tired and frustrated, which frustrated me even more. I knew I was terribly scared of the exam but I assumed everyone was scared too. The anxiety disorder and depression diagnosis came in 201