Mental health experts have raised concern over the growing rate of psychological disorders among Nigerian teenagers, calling for urgent, multi-sectoral intervention.
The warning came during the Teen Life Conference organized by the non-governmental organization Xtar Africa in Kaduna. The event, themed “Mental Health and Academic Productivity,” brought together over 300 students from various secondary schools across the state.
Psychologist and teen advocate Miss Judith Igemokhai described mental health as a key factor in students’ academic performance. She referenced the recent suicide of a JAMB candidate in Lagos, reportedly linked to exam results, as a tragic indicator of the mental health crisis among youths.
Igemokhai, also the founder of Xtar Africa, urged education stakeholders to introduce mental health education into school curricula and reinforce the role of school counselors. She also appealed to parents to adopt more empathetic and communicative approaches in raising teenagers.
Keynote speaker Folashade Rojugbokan, a certified Family and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, stressed the impact of mental well-being on academic success. She encouraged students to develop self-awareness and resist negative comparisons with societal expectations.
Student participants, including Ochanya Ogwuche, Natasha Akhain, and Ishaku Simon, shared that they learned to seek help when overwhelmed and to recognize early signs of mental distress.
According to the World Health Organization, over 13% of adolescents aged 10–19—an estimated 166 million globally—live with a diagnosed mental disorder.
The conference featured breakout sessions, one-on-one counseling, awards, scholarship presentations, poetry recitations, and an interactive Q&A segment.