By By Sola Adebawo
THE loss of a loved one is a universal and painful experience. But for many Nigerians, grief extends far beyond the finality of death. It is a persistent, gnawing ache born from the loss of stability, economic hope, and personal safety. In a country where the average life expectancy is just over 53 years, according to research from institutions like ResearchGains, the constant drumbeat of mortality due to inadequate healthcare, insecurity, and poverty leaves an indelible mark on the national psyche. This article explores the multifaceted grief and mental health challenges facing Nigerians and offers pathways to healing.
The Foundation of Distress: Beyond the Individual
Mental health in Nigeria is a deeply communal issue, shaped by a complex web of social, political, and economic factors. The World Health Organization (WHO) and local studies reveal that a significant portion of the population suffers from mental illnesses, with conditions like anxiety and depression being prevalent. While individual predisposition plays a role, the macro-level pressures create a fertile ground for distress.
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The country’s fragile healthcare system is a primary driver of this trauma. Chronic underfunding, a severe shortage of mental health professionals – with only a handful of psychiatrists for a population of over 200 million – and a lack of accessible facilities mean that a mental health crisis is largely unaddressed. As noted in a study published in the European Journal of Business and Innovation Research, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural areas, contributes to high mortality rates, particularly for women during childbirth. This perpetual state of medical precarity means every illness and every life is a fragile, high-stakes gamble, creating a pervasive undercurrent of anxiety and collective bereavement.
Beyond the hospital walls, the economic and security landscape compounds the problem. According to a study in the American Journal of Applied Psychology, socioeconomic hardship and financial instability are direct precursors to anxiety, depression, and stress. The rising cost of living, unemployment, and the daily grind of survival in an unpredictable economy are not just financial problems – they are mental health crises. The constant fear of kidnapping, banditry, and communal violence, particularly in regions like the North, leaves deep psychological scars that manifest as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypervigilance, and deep-seated despair. In this environment, the loss of a family member, whether from illness, violence, or migration, is not an isolated event; it is a symptom of a deeper societal sickness.
A Digital Lifeline: The Role of Technology and Social Media
In a society with limited formal mental health infrastructure, technology has emerged as an unexpected but vital tool for communication and support. Social media platforms, in particular, are changing the conversation around mental health in Nigeria. Online communities, helplines, and digital campaigns are helping to chip away at the stigma that has long surrounded psychological distress.
Organizations like the Nigerian Mental Health Foundation, founded by Chime Asonye, and initiatives by prominent psychologists such as Dr. Olufemi Oladele, have used platforms like Instagram and Twitter to host live sessions, share educational content, and provide a safe, anonymous space for people to ask for help. These platforms allow individuals to connect with peers and professionals without the physical and social barriers of traditional clinics. For many, a simple post or comment can be the first step in acknowledging their pain and seeking support.
However, this digital lifeline is not without its challenges. The proliferation of misinformation and the lack of professional regulation can lead to unqualified advice and potentially harmful practices. Yet, the overall impact is a positive one, as it brings a long-silenced topic into the public square.
Healing in Faith: A Pillar of Nigerian Coping Mechanisms
For a deeply religious society like Nigeria, faith is not just a belief system; it is a primary coping mechanism. Research on Ghanaian and Nigerian youth in London highlights how prayer and community support serve as powerful emotional anchors. For many, finding solace in a higher power provides a framework for understanding and accepting loss. Churches and mosques often act as de facto community mental health centers, offering a space for communal lamentation and spiritual guidance. The belief that God is in control and that there is a purpose behind suffering can provide a powerful shield against despair.
However, the faith-based approach can also be a double-edged sword. Some religious leaders may discourage professional help, attributing mental illness to spiritual or demonic forces rather than biological and environmental factors. This can prevent individuals from seeking the clinical care they desperately need. The key, as many mental health advocates are now stressing, is to integrate faith with evidence-based practices, encouraging individuals to see professional help as a complement to their spiritual journey, not a replacement for it.
Finding Healing in the Wilderness
Despite the daunting challenges, Nigerians are a people of remarkable resilience. While the formal mental healthcare system is lacking, the indigenous coping mechanisms are robust, though not without their own limitations. As noted by researchers in a study on diasporic Nigerians, grief is often a communal, not an individual, experience. Mourning rituals, from traditional Igbo and Yoruba funeral rites to Muslim burial practices, provide a structured, shared space for processing pain.
For Nigerians grappling with the unseen weight of loss and trauma, here are a few recommended coping mechanisms:
1. Reclaim Community, Intentionally: Actively seek out people who lift you up. Connect with a close-knit group of friends or a faith community (church, mosque) where open and honest conversations about mental health are encouraged.
2. Redefine Resilience: Resilience is not about suffering in silence. It is about actively seeking help. Renowned Nigerian authors and mental health experts like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her book Notes on Grief and Ayo Deforge in Grips of Grief provide a new vocabulary for discussing pain and sorrow, moving away from the stigma that often suffocates these conversations. Resilience is the courage to admit you are not okay.
3. Engage in Creative Expression: The arts have long been a therapeutic outlet. Expressing your grief through writing, poetry, music, or visual art can be a powerful way to externalize pain and begin the healing process.
4. Embrace “Japa” as a Symbol: The “Japa” movement, or migration, is often seen as a sign of hopelessness. However, it can also be viewed as a form of resilient coping—a move towards hope and a different reality. For those who choose to stay, it is a call to action to create the change they seek.
The mental and emotional landscape of Nigeria is a battlefield, but it is not a lost cause. The conversation is beginning to change. Organisations like the Nigerian Mental Health Foundation are advocating for policy changes and awareness. The path to healing is long, but it begins with a single, crucial step: acknowledging the unseen weight of our collective grief and committing to tend to our own inner gardens.
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Sola Adebawo is an accomplished business leader and communications expert with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry. He currently serves as the General Manager of Government, Joint Venture, and External Relations at Heritage Energy. Adebawo is also an author, scholar, and ordained minister, known for his writings on socioeconomic issues, strategic communication and leadership.
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