Hauwa Ojeifo: Nigerian mental health law raises hope…

She Writes Woman founder Hauwa Ojeifo described Nigeria’s mental health legislation as a key development that has begun to shift public perception and political attention, even as significant gaps in implementation and access to treatment remain.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday about the impact of the law on mental health, Ojeifo noted that its passage has provided many Nigerians with a renewed sense of hope and validation.

He emphasized that the law represents more than a legal framework; signals a growing political will to address a long-neglected issue. However, he stressed that the translation of policies into everyday reality, particularly for disadvantaged communities, remains limited.

Ojeifo also highlighted the crucial role of civil society and private organizations in filling service gaps, explaining that legal frameworks alone are insufficient without coordinated action. Through She Writes Woman’s 24/7 mental health helpline, the organization has logged over 25,000 calls, revealing alarming patterns in mental health needs across the country.

One of the most surprising findings, he said, is that one in two callers presents with suicidal ideation. Most of those seeking help are young people aged between 18 and 30, with women more likely to intervene earlier, while men tend to seek help only in times of crisis.

Geographic patterns also reveal disparities in awareness and access. The South West sees the highest number of calls, which Ojeifo attributes not necessarily to a higher prevalence of mental health conditions but to greater mental health literacy and awareness. By contrast, more than half of people calling from the North Central region report having suicidal ideations, a trend she described as deeply troubling and worthy of further investigation.

The South-South region, meanwhile, shows more reports of gender-based violence, accounting for more than 20% of cases of distress in that area. Ojeifo linked some of these trends to broader social upheavals, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown period.

Across demographics, it identified three dominant drivers of distress: financial hardship, family conflict, and relationship or marital strain. These, he explained, often intersect with broader economic and social pressures, intensifying emotional vulnerability.

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He also highlighted the importance of accessibility in mental healthcare, highlighting barriers such as cost, stigma and distance. To address this, She Writes Woman has prioritized limited-resource interventions, including a toll-free, confidential hotline (0800 800 2000), available 24/7, now expanded to include multilingual and faith-sensitive support options.

He concluded by highlighting the economic value of investing in mental health, highlighting that for every naira spent on its interventions, eleven naira in social value is estimated to be generated, along with significant cost savings for people who might otherwise face expensive private treatment. [Arise TV]

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