ADDRESSING NIGERIA’S MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS: A CALL TO ACTION FOR GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS IN NIGERIA, AFRICA, AND BEYOND
Hello readers of Victor Cosmas Blog from Nigeria, Africa, the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and across the globe! If you’re new here, welcome! Victor Cosmas Blog is dedicated to envisioning a thriving Nigeria—a nation led by brilliant minds and filled with compassionate, considerate citizens who make it a beacon of hope for Africa and the world. Today, I’m addressing a pressing issue that affects not just Nigeria but resonates globally: the mental health crisis plaguing our streets. It’s heartbreaking to walk through cities in Nigeria—whether in Akwa Ibom State, my home, or Ogun State and Lagos State—and see mentally ill Nigerians abandoned to survive harsh nights and blistering days. These individuals, often eating from trash cans and enduring unimaginable hardship, are a stark reminder of a system that has failed them. Even in Eastern Nigeria, where I’ve traveled, the sight of mentally unwell citizens wandering aimlessly is all too common. This isn’t just a Nigerian problem—it’s a ...