By George Ozalla
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the Federal Government to increase investment in mental healthcare, improve access to treatment and protect people living with mental health conditions from discrimination, neglect, violence and other human rights abuses.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), made the call on Monday, October 12, 2026, in Abuja, while addressing a world press conference and stakeholders to mark the 2026 World Mental Health Day.
Ojukwu said mental health should be treated as both a healthcare concern and a fundamental human rights issue, noting that people experiencing mental health conditions deserved dignity, respect and access to professional care without stigma or discrimination.
He cited Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which recognises the right of every individual to enjoy the best attainable state of physical and mental health.
The NHRC chief noted that Nigeria had taken legislative and policy steps through the National Mental Health Act, 2021, the National Mental Health Policy and the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework. He, however, stressed that the existence of these laws and policies must lead to improved healthcare services and better protection for affected persons.
According to him, nearly one in seven people globally lives with a mental disorder, while many who need treatment do not receive adequate care.
He expressed concern over the high cost of treatment and limited health insurance coverage in Nigeria, which he said placed additional burdens on affected persons and their families.
Ojukwu also noted that poverty, violence, disability, inequality, conflict and displacement could worsen mental health conditions, particularly among people affected by humanitarian emergencies.
He said people living with mental health conditions often faced discrimination in education, employment, housing and community life, while some were denied the opportunity to make decisions about their own lives or subjected to treatment that undermined their dignity.
“A mental-health condition does not reduce a person’s worth, dignity or human rights,” he maintained.
The Executive Secretary called for affordable and accessible mental healthcare through community-based facilities and primary healthcare centres, alongside stronger health insurance coverage.
He disclosed that the Commission had established a Counselling Unit at its headquarters to provide emotional support to people distressed or traumatised by human rights violations.
The unit also provides support to NHRC employees who experience emotional distress while handling cases involving violence, abuse, loss and suffering.
Ojukwu further stated that the Commission, through its Human Rights Institute, had organised training programmes for investigation officers to improve their ability to identify psychosocial concerns, respond appropriately to vulnerable complainants and recognise cases requiring professional intervention.
He added that the NHRC was working with relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to incorporate human rights safeguards into the proposed National Mental Health Strategic Plan for 2027–2032.
The Commission had also participated in training organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on drug prevention, treatment and care, including the relationship between substance use, mental health and human rights.
On interventions involving victims of abuse, Ojukwu disclosed that the NHRC, in partnership with the Taipei Trade Office and civil society organisations, had provided grants and free mental health sessions to some indigent women who were victims of human rights violations.
He also cited cases in Kano State involving children and adults subjected to solitary confinement, who were moved to a welfare facility following the Commission’s intervention.
In another case, he said the Commission had rescued a child from a woman living in extremely distressing and inhuman conditions in the Federal Capital Territory, in circumstances linked to her mental state.
He warned against punishment, abandonment and abuse as responses to mental health conditions, calling instead for professional care, family support and respect for human dignity.
Ojukwu urged the Federal Government to prioritise mental healthcare in national health planning, provide adequate funding and strengthen the implementation of the National Mental Health Act and Policy.
He also called for increased training and deployment of psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, psychiatric nurses and social workers, as well as stronger monitoring of human rights violations in mental health facilities.
He further urged government agencies and other stakeholders to expand mental health and psychosocial support for survivors of conflict, terrorism, gender-based violence, displacement, torture and human trafficking.
The NHRC chief called on schools, workplaces, families and communities to create supportive environments where people could discuss mental health concerns and seek professional assistance without fear of discrimination.
He maintained that religious and traditional leaders should complement, rather than replace, professional mental healthcare when clinical or psychosocial support was required.
He also urged the media to promote accurate and sensitive reporting that would challenge stereotypes, discourage discrimination and encourage people experiencing mental health challenges to seek appropriate care.
Meanwhile, the Public Awareness on Rights and Rehabilitation of Vulnerable Persons Initiative called for the full implementation of the National Mental Health Act, 2021, particularly in protecting the rights of people living with mental health conditions in correctional facilities.
The organisation’s representative, Ogechi Ogu, said the gap between the provisions of the law and their implementation remained a major obstacle to effective mental healthcare delivery.
She urged the authorities to prioritise Sections 12 to 23 of the Act, which she identified as important to protecting affected persons and improving access to services.
Ogu also called for increased public awareness, more investment in training mental health professionals and better access to treatment. She cautioned against the belief that mental health conditions were exclusively spiritual problems, noting that such misconceptions could prevent individuals and families from seeking help from qualified professionals.
On the welfare of inmates, the organisation called for appropriate screening, access to treatment and referrals to suitable healthcare facilities for people in custody who required specialised care.
It stressed that correctional facilities should not serve as substitutes for mental healthcare institutions and urged authorities to protect inmates against torture and other human rights violations.
In a related development, mental health and addiction recovery expert Dr. James Komolafe, representing SABA Resources Intervention Hub, called for practical interventions to address the behavioural factors that contribute to violence.
Komolafe urged the NHRC to work with its Human Rights Institute and Vulnerable Groups Department to develop frameworks for identifying behavioural risks, assessing vulnerabilities and providing appropriate interventions.
He argued that efforts to prevent violence should address not only physical attacks but also the thoughts, emotions, attitudes and behavioural patterns that could precede harmful actions.
The expert introduced what he described as the Five-T Model of Behavioural Communication, comprising teaching, testing, treating, trending and trusting. He explained that the approach involved education, behavioural assessment, appropriate support, the adoption of positive behavioural changes and the application of lessons learned.
Komolafe called for research-based interventions, professional assessment and sustained behavioural support to help prevent violence and protect vulnerable persons.
The NHRC urged government institutions, civil society organisations, healthcare professionals, families and communities to work together to ensure that no person was abandoned, discriminated against or denied appropriate care because of a mental health condition.
