By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD, mnipr
In a powerful call to action marking World Mental Health Day 2025, the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity, has urged Nigerians to end the culture of silence and stigma surrounding mental health, stressing that the well-being of the nation depends on the strength of its people’s minds.
Under this year’s World Health Organization (WHO) theme, “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” the association joined the global community to spotlight the urgent need for inclusive, equitable, and accessible mental health services—especially in times of crises.
In Asaba, Delta State, the Vito Corsica Deck (Delta North Senatorial District) and Long Island Deck (Ottawa, Ontario) of NAS commemorated the day with a dynamic phone-in radio programme on Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) Radio. The live show, themed “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” featured leading voices including Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Tony Enebe, who provided expert perspectives on the gaps and opportunities in Nigeria’s mental health landscape.
Anchored by Comrade Toju Edmo Tuoyo, the programme gave listeners a platform to ask pressing questions, share experiences, and challenge myths around mental illness. It also emphasized the urgent need for more therapy centres, trained professionals, and government investment to bridge the mental healthcare gap.
Mr. Emeka Maduka, Program Director of Vito Corsica Deck, emphasized that mental health is fundamental to national development, urging policymakers, community leaders, and citizens to treat it with the urgency it deserves.
According to Maduka “Mental health is not a luxury, it is essential to national development,” the association declared. “We must reject harmful myths and build systems that treat every mind with dignity.”
NAS drew attention to alarming statistics: nearly 80% of Nigerians with severe mental health needs are unable to access care, largely due to inadequate infrastructure, widespread stigma, and a shortage of professionals. Research indicates that one in four Nigerians will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, yet less than 10% of those in need actually receive help.
Despite the passage of Nigeria’s Mental Health Act in 2021, mental health funding remains under 3% of total health expenditure, with over 90% of that directed to a few psychiatric institutions rather than community-level care.
NAS emphasized that achieving a mentally resilient society requires more than policies—it demands cultural change. Harmful myths linking mental illness to “spiritual weakness” persist across communities, leading to neglect and even abuse. The group cited cases reported by The Guardian in 2024, where elderly people with dementia were branded witches, as stark examples of deep-rooted stigma.
The Pyrates Confraternity reaffirmed its commitment to using inclusive and empathetic language, promoting narratives of wellness, recovery, and human dignity, and supporting mental health advocacy across Nigeria.
NAS called on:
Government to increase mental health funding to at least 5% of the national health budget;
Employers to create workplace wellness programmes;
Faith and community leaders to help dismantle myths and encourage open conversations;
All Nigerians to treat mental health as integral to life, not as a taboo.
“The fight for mental health is also a fight against discrimination, exclusion, and silence,” the association stressed. “Every life matters, every mind counts, and every voice of struggle deserves compassion, care, and attention.”
As the world navigates growing mental health challenges, NAS’s initiative in Asaba stands out as a community-driven model for awareness and advocacy. By partnering with experts, engaging the public through accessible media, and confronting stigma head-on, the association is amplifying a national conversation long overdue.