It is also important to listen and empower service users – persons and their families who have had direct experience of living with a mental disorder, to tell their unique stories and push back against the enormous burden of shame, stigma and discrimination that they often have to suffer through.

The lack of accurate information about mental health challenges and how to access care further worsens the lack of access to qualitative mental health care services in Nigeria. Thus, the majority of affected persons seek care from either traditional or spiritual healers, and in many instances, they are exposed to human rights abuses.

Yet we know that mental illnesses are treatable conditions and that cheap, qualitative and effective treatment options are available. But information about understanding these conditions, where to access care and how to help, are not easy to come by. Especially with the secrecy and hushed tones with which mental health challenges are discussed