We Must Expand Access Now": Stakeholders Demand Increased Mental Health Services in Conflict Zones

"We Must Expand Access Now": Stakeholders Demand Increased Mental Health Services in Conflict Zones

Wednesday October 8, 2025

In a united front, government leaders, health experts, and international partners today issued a compelling call for expanded mental health access in Nigeria's conflict-affected regions, declaring that current services remain critically inadequate for communities grappling with trauma and displacement.

The gathering at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri, commemorating World Mental Health Day 2025, became a platform for urgent appeals under the theme "Access to Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies."

Dr. Tunde Ojo, National Coordinator for the National Mental Health Programme, emphasized the critical need for wider reach: "We must not just do something at the national level but come to the solidarity front line. The ability of affected populations to access essential mental health support remains inadequate, and this demands our immediate action."

Echoing this urgency, Dr. Goni Imam, representing the Borno State Government, stressed that "we need to collaborate and come together to strengthen the health system, particularly the aspect of mental health." He outlined practical strategies to increase access, including "integrating all services with mental health" to ensure care reaches even the most remote and vulnerable communities.

The host institution's leader, Dr. Umar Baba Musami, reinforced the call to action, stating that the hospital is working continuously "to ensure that no one is left behind in mental health services." He emphasized that expanding access means making services "available, affordable, and equitable, even under crisis conditions."

International partners, including the World Health Organization and International Committee of the Red Cross, joined the appeal, pledging support to help bridge the access gap in hard-to-reach areas. They emphasized that without substantial improvements in service availability, the mental health crisis in conflict-affected regions would continue to worsen.

The consensus among all stakeholders highlighted three crucial pathways to improved access: integrating mental health into primary care systems, training more frontline health workers, and developing community-based approaches that overcome barriers of stigma and infrastructure.

As the event concluded, the message was clear: expanding mental health access in Nigeria's conflict zones is not just a priority but an emergency that demands immediate, coordinated action from all sectors.