Korede Abdullah 
OGUN, Nigeria – The Ogun State Government raises fresh concern over a surge in mental health cases, revealing that more than 10,000 residents received treatment within the first half of 2025.
Speaking at a press briefing marking World Mental Health Day 2025 in Abeokuta on Friday, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, represented by Dr. Oladehinde Kayode, said data from four mental health centres—Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, Ilaro, and Ota—show nearly 1,000 new patients.
“Mental health challenges are escalating due to insecurity, economic strain, and social pressures,” Coker warned. “Mental health is not a privilege; it is a human right.”
She identified psychosis, neurosis, epilepsy, depression, and substance use disorders as the top conditions treated, lamenting that stigma and poverty keep many from accessing care.
To address the crisis, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Kayode Soyinka, announced the creation of a 26-member Mental Health Committee chaired by Dr. Olajide Abayomi of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro Abeokuta, to drive community awareness and improve care.
“The state is committed to expanding access and integrating mental wellness into primary healthcare,” Coker assured.
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