By Abiola Olawale
Over 200 stakeholders, including mental health advocates, legislators, legal practitioners, caregivers, and experts, convened for the 2nd Annual Colloquium on Mental Health and the Law in Nigeria, held on May 17, 2025, with a firm resolution that the mental health sector needs urgent attention.
The New Diplomat reports that the hybrid event, hosted both virtually and in-person at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, and the University of Saksenburg, Canada, centered on the theme: “From Mental Health Legislation to Action: Time is NOW.”
During the colloquium, health experts spotlighted the urgent need to bridge the gap between the National Mental Health Act (NMHA) 2021 and its practical implementation.
While the NMHA, signed into law in 2021, marked a step toward improving mental health care in Nigeria, participants, however, expressed concern over its stalled execution.
This was contained in a press statement and the communique issued at the end of the colloquium, which was made available to The New Diplomat.
The statement/communique read in part: “Concerned about the Act’s stagnation in execution, participants called for renewed commitment and collaboration to facilitate the Act’s long-overdue implementation.
The Recommendations:
• Advocate for the establishment of a Department of Mental Health within the Federal Ministry of Health to oversee and coordinate mental health initiatives as contained in the Act.
• Advocate for the domestication of the NMHA 2021 by state administrations, ensuring that it is suitable for the local context and requirements.
• Engage in comprehensive public awareness campaigns to educate the public about mental health issues, reduce stigma, and promote the understanding of the Act.
• Advocate for funding for the establishment and enhancement of mental health infrastructure to guarantee that facilities are capable of providing high-quality treatment.
• To facilitate the implementation of mental health services, advocate for increased budgetary allocations at both the federal and state levels.
• Develop and implement training programs for healthcare providers, legal practitioners, law enforcement agencies, and community stakeholders to enhance their competence in implementing the NMHA 2021 mental health service delivery process.
• Establish partnerships with media organizations, prominent media figures, social media influencers, and civil society groups to effectively engage the community and amplify mental health advocacy.”
