…Warns Of Underdiagnosis, Stigma, Neglect Among Youths
Calls For Stronger Investment, Community Engagement In Mental Health
Daud Olatunji
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised fresh concerns over the growing mental health crisis among young people, revealing that between 10 and 20 per cent of adolescents globally experience disorders such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis—many of which begin between the ages of 11 and 18.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during the 2025 International Adolescent Health Week, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, said millions of young people continue to suffer in silence due to low mental health literacy, stigma, and poor access to health services.
Ursu, who was represented by the WHO Nigeria’s Adolescent Health Specialist, Mary Brantuo, warned that neglecting adolescent mental health poses serious long-term social and health risks.
“Mental health challenges among young people remain underdiagnosed and untreated. Stigma and lack of awareness make it worse, leaving many to struggle alone,” Brantuo said.
She added that only about 20–30 per cent of Nigerian adolescents engage in regular physical activity, a factor she said contributes to declining overall wellbeing.
Brantuo emphasised that investing in adolescent health is not just a moral duty but a strategic necessity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure Nigeria’s long-term socio-economic stability.
“We must increase investment, build partnerships across sectors, and engage communities to protect and promote the physical and mental health of our young people,” she said.
At the same event, a student of Junior Secondary School, Karonmajigi, Peculiar Bassey, made a passionate appeal to government and parents to show deeper empathy and action toward the “silent struggles” of adolescents.
“Many of us deal with stress, low self-esteem, peer pressure, and loneliness,” she said. “These are not just emotional issues — they affect our ability to learn and live happily. We need adults to listen to us without judgement.”
Bassey called for schools and families to create safe spaces where young people can talk freely about mental health and seek help without fear or shame.
Responding to the growing concerns, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening adolescent health systems nationwide.
Represented by the Ministry’s Director of Human Resource Management, Tetshoma Dafeta, Pate described adolescents as “the heartbeat of Nigeria’s future,” noting that they make up 23 per cent of the nation’s population.
“How we care for our adolescents will determine Nigeria’s stability and prosperity,” Pate stated.
He highlighted ongoing government interventions, including the creation of an Adolescent and School Health Branch, a dedicated budget line for adolescent health, and the implementation of the National Adolescent Health Policy.
Pate urged state governments to replicate these efforts, integrate mental health services into school systems, and allocate part of their Education, Youth, and Women Affairs budgets to adolescent-focused programmes.
Also speaking, Jennifer Adebambi, the Country Manager for Partnerships and Collaboration at the Society for Family Health (SFH), called for stronger prioritisation of adolescent-friendly health services, particularly for girls in underserved communities.
According to her, the organisation’s Adolescents 360 (A360) project has already reached more than one million girls aged 15–19 with family planning services, 175,000 with safe maternity care, and 500,000 with vocational and economic empowerment programmes.
“Empowering adolescents, especially girls, is central to breaking the cycle of poor health and poverty. When they are healthy, informed, and skilled, entire communities thrive,” Adebambi said.
Stakeholders at the event unanimously urged policymakers, educators, and parents to prioritise adolescent mental health through early intervention, open dialogue, and continuous investment in youth development programmes.
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