Mental health issues remain one of the most overlooked health crises in Nigeria, particularly in rural and low-income areas.

Despite growing awareness globally, mental health care is still stigmatized, underfunded, and poorly integrated into primary healthcare systems in our communities.

For many Nigerians, conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or postpartum mental disorders go undiagnosed and untreated for years.

Recognizing this urgent gap, CSHP Foundation launched a mental health initiative, a program dedicated to creating mental health awareness, training community-based mental health first-aiders, and integrating psychosocial support into existing community services.

Our goal is to train volunteers — which will include teachers, market women, pastors, and youth leaders — who will be positioned across various LGAs in Nigeria.

These volunteers will serve as the first line of support, offering empathetic listening, spotting warning signs, and making referrals to professional services.

Through community forums, school sensitization programs, and strategic partnerships with local health centers, we plan to initiate over 500 mental health screenings in the next few years.

In addition, we intend to use local radio stations and social media campaigns help to normalize mental health conversations across the country and across Africa.

Mental health is health. And in a country like Nigeria where over 60 million people may be living with a mental health condition, addressing this head-on is no longer optional — it’s essential.

CSHP continues to push for inclusive healthcare where mental wellness is treated with the same urgency as physical illness.