Dr Steven Anu Adesemoye spotlights the urgent need for hyper-local, pro-poor interventions in men’s mental health during a powerful address at the Achievers Crew retreat in Imota, Lagos, challenging stigma and calling for accessible ward-level support.
Nigerian social reform advocate and senior lecturer Dr Steven Anu Adesemoye delivered a compelling presentation titled “The Unspoken Battle: Understanding Men’s Mental Health” to members of the Achievers Crew at their annual retreat held at NS Hotel on Ebute Ajebo Road in Imota, Lagos State, on Friday 19 June 2026.
Drawing on both national statistics and personal realities, Dr Adesemoye highlighted the hidden toll on Nigerian men, who are often conditioned from birth to embody stoicism and suppress vulnerability in pursuit of strength and success. He told the gathering of high-achieving men that the prevailing culture rewarding emotional silence has contributed to delayed help-seeking and worsening outcomes.
Estimates from the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation suggest that between 20 and 30 percent of Nigerians experience mental health challenges, yet the country faces a severe shortage of psychiatrists for its population of over 240 million.
Suicide rates remain among the highest in Africa, with men disproportionately affected and a persistent misconception that depression primarily concerns women.
Dr Adesemoye described the “Code” instilled in Nigerian boys, which equates emotional restraint with masculinity, attributes distress to spiritual causes, and views therapy as a sign of weakness.
He explained how men’s struggles often surface not as open sadness but through irritability, anger, overwork, disrupted sleep, physical symptoms such as headaches or chest tightness, and social withdrawal.
Factors including economic hardship, the Japa emigration wave, and constant social media comparison intensify these pressures in 2026.
The session offered more than diagnosis.
Dr Adesemoye guided participants through practical exercises, including a 60-second body scan and a three-minute brain-dump journaling activity, to foster immediate awareness and lower stress.
He promoted an arsenal of everyday tools: regular physical exercise, quality sleep, conversations with trusted individuals, attention to gut health through local staples like oily fish, leafy greens and fermented foods such as ogi, alongside techniques like box breathing.
A powerful highlight came when Dr Adesemoye declared, “The bravest thing a man can do is admit he needs help and ask for it. You did not come this far to be undone by something that could be treated, managed, and healed.”
He urged the group to become first responders for one another by asking direct questions such as “Are you actually okay?” and listening without rushing to fix.
The presentation culminated in the Achievers Mental Health Pledge, through which attendees committed to self-checks, adopting wellness habits, supporting struggling brothers, and breaking the code of silence.
Many described the session as transformative, with the interactive elements leaving a lasting impression on participants.
Nigeria’s mental health landscape has long suffered from inadequate infrastructure, low government spending, and deep cultural stigma.
While recent policy efforts and growing advocacy signal progress, experts agree that scalable, community-rooted solutions remain essential to close the treatment gap.
Dr Adesemoye advocated establishing dedicated help desks in every ward, staffed by trained experts and offering affordable, accessible care. Such hyper-local, pro-poor interventions, he argued, represent a practical pathway to dismantle barriers and deliver meaningful support where it is most needed.
As economic and social pressures continue to mount, initiatives like this retreat underscore the growing recognition that addressing men’s mental health is not merely a health issue but a vital step towards stronger families, communities, and national development.
The call for action resonates far beyond the room in Imota, inviting wider societal engagement with compassion and urgency.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
