The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APIN) has raised an alarm over the acute shortage of psychiatrists in the country, with less than 250 specialists available to cater to the mental health needs of over 216 million Nigerians.
This falls far short of the recommended ratio of one psychiatrist to 10,000 population, which would require at least 21,600 psychiatrists.
The APIN President, Prof Taiwo Obindo, highlighted that many qualified psychiatrists remain unemployed, and the mental health policy’s integration into primary healthcare and establishment of mental health departments in hospitals is hindered by the lack of professionals.
The brain drain affects not only psychiatrists but also clinical psychologists and psychiatric nurses, resulting in a significant mental health treatment gap, where less than two out of ten people with mental health conditions can access adequate care.
Rural areas are particularly affected, with limited access to mental health facilities and specialists.