A Growing Mental Health Crisis
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara State Chapter, has sounded the alarm over deteriorating working conditions in Nigeria’s health sector, warning that rising stress and despair among doctors are contributing to burnout, anxiety, depression, and even suicide.
Prof AbdulRahman Afolabi, NMA Kwara Chairman, revealed these concerns during a press briefing held in Ilorin alongside the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting under the theme Medicine and Entrepreneurship and the sub-theme Mental Health and Well-being of Doctors in Nigeria Importance of Mental Health.
• Harsh Work Environment Demands Attention
Prof Afolabi stressed that while innovation and leadership in medicine deserve recognition, there is an urgent need to confront this growing crisis of mental health and well-being among doctors in Nigeria. He acknowledged that doctors on the front lines of care, continue to face overwhelming stressors including long working hours, overwhelming patient volumes, poor pay, crumbling infrastructure, inadequate security, and occasional violence, all driving escalating rates of burnout, mental illness, and tragic outcomes like suicide.
He advocated for systemic reforms to address these issues, calling for confidential counselling services, wellness programmes, and safer work environment and emphasizing that a healthy doctor is essential to a healthy population and remains a critical public health issue.
A National Urgency
The NMA chairman appealed to policymakers, healthcare institutions, professional bodies, and the public to prioritise mental health support for doctors and empower healthcare professionals to deliver innovation-driven solutions for Nigerians. He reiterated the association’s commitment to enhancing the welfare and mental resilience of all doctors in Kwara and beyond.
Broader Context & Insights
• Widespread Burnout: Studies reveal burnout prevalence among Nigerian doctors ranges between 24% and over 75%, depending on region and methodology. Burnout is frequently linked to overwork, emotional exhaustion, depression, and even errors in patient care.
• Severe Workforce Shortages: In Kwara State, just about 650 doctors serve over 3.6 million people reflecting a doctor-to-patient ratio of roughly 1:5,500, falling far short of the WHO’s recommended 1:600. In public hospitals, only about 89 doctors are currently employed, though 180–200 are needed.
• Brain Drain Pressures: These strain factors contribute to a mass exodus of medical professionals seeking better opportunities abroad. Many doctors cite mental and physical stress from overwhelming workloads, such as attending to up to 100 patients in a single clinic session, as key reasons for leaving.
• Insecurity Intensifies Burden: Rising rates of kidnappings and attacks on healthcare workers compound the stress, with some doctors refusing postings in insecure areas, further weakening the system.
• National Mental Health Crisis: Nigeria faces a broader mental health challenge, with fewer than 400 psychiatrists serving a population of approximately 200 million. Stigma and limited access to care make help scarce for many suffering, including those in the medical profession.
