Osaigbovo Iguobaro
For years, Mary walked through the gates of the Oredo Local Government Council Secretariat in Benin City as a staff member with dreams, responsibilities and hope for a better future.
Today, she walks through the same premises searching refuse dumps for empty cans to sell, while many who once knew her look on with pity.
Her story is more than a personal tragedy. It is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of untreated mental illness, social stigma and the gaps in Nigeria’s mental healthcare system.
Mental health experts say poverty, economic hardship, family instability, substance abuse, trauma and the rising cost of healthcare continue to increase psychological distress among Nigerians.
Combined with persistent stigma and discrimination, these challenges often prevent those living with mental illness from seeking timely treatment.
Women and young people are among the groups considered most vulnerable, as they frequently bear the weight of economic uncertainty, social expectations and emotional pressures.
*The math of misery: A widening mental healthcare gap
Despite repeated government assurances to improve mental healthcare, treatment coverage remains grossly inadequate.
Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million, has only about 200 psychiatrists and roughly 1,000 psychiatric nurses, leaving millions without access to specialist mental health services.
Mental health professionals note that this falls far below international recommendations for adequate psychiatric care, highlighting the urgent need for increased investment in mental health services, community support and public awareness.
It is argued that expanding access to treatment, tackling stigma and creating opportunities for rehabilitation are essential steps toward reducing the growing burden of mental illness.
From the Streets to Forgotten Corners
King’s Square, one of the busiest public spaces in Benin City, has increasingly become home to many people living with mental illness and homelessness.
Despite periodic evacuation exercises by the Edo State Government across Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas, the number of destitute persons visible on the streets continues to rise.
Stakeholders believe that simply removing vulnerable people from public spaces without sustained rehabilitation, psychosocial support and reintegration programmes only shifts the problem from one location to another.
Mental health advocates argue that lasting solutions require accessible treatment, functional rehabilitation centres, family support and consistent government intervention.
Historically, Nigerians have been known for strong communal support and compassion towards vulnerable members of society. However, many observers say those values appear to be diminishing as economic hardship deepens and social pressures increase.
*A colleague forgotten
Among those battling this harsh reality is Mary, once a staff member of Oredo Local Government Council. Colleagues remember her as articulate, respectful and fluent in English.
Today, her life has taken a painful turn arising from a devastating taboo and unresolved martial crises. According to family sources, a combination of emotional trauma, anxiety and other personal challenges contributed to the deterioration of her mental health.
Rather than receiving timely professional care, her condition gradually worsened until she eventually found herself living on the streets. She now survives largely on the kindness of strangers.
