Mental health professionals in Nigeria have reacted to the country’s steep drop in the just released 2025 World Happiness Report, describing it as a reflection of widespread emotional distress driven by worsening living conditions. The report, which measures happiness across 147 countries using key metrics such as income, social support, freedom, life expectancy, and perceptions of corruption, ranked Nigeria at 105th place globally—a sharp decline from its 2024 position at 102 and 95 in 2023. Once ranked among the top three happiest countries in Africa, Nigeria has now fallen to 10th on the continent, with its score driven down by rising poverty, insecurity, and a lack of meaningful social safety nets.
According to the experts, the nation’s collective mental well-being is deteriorating rapidly under the strain of escalating financial hardship and insecurity. The emotional toll is increasingly visible in rising rates of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even suicide—all signs of a population grappling with deep and unresolved distress. This emotional toll is further reinforced by data from the Global Citizen Solutions’ Quality of Living Index, where Nigeria ranked 135th out of 199 countries. The Index’s evaluation of happiness gave Nigeria a dismal score of 10%, while the Cost Of Living stood at just 20%.
Viral trend reveals the depth of public distress.
These figures speak volumes about the everyday struggles of the average Nigerian, many of whom cannot keep up with inflation, rent, school fees, or the skyrocketing cost of basic goods and medical services. The situation has even spilled into the digital space, where a viral ongoing trend, #30DaysRantChallenge, has become an emotional outlet for people to share raw, unfiltered experiences of economic pain, social neglect, and psychological fatigue. Mental Health professionals warn that this wave of unhappiness is not just emotional, it is physiological.
In an interview with PUNCH Healthwise, Professor Taiwo Obindo, President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), explained that the inability to afford food, medication, healthcare, and even social interactions is eroding the emotional fabric of society. He emphasized that financial stress has made basic coping mechanisms, such as attending social events, taking time off work, or even seeing a doctor, luxuries few can now afford. For many, this has led to isolation, depression, and an overwhelming sense of despair.
Unmet basic needs and insecurity deepen mental health crises.
Obindo warned that this pattern, if left unchecked, could reduce workplace productivity, weaken family life, and damage the mental health of children. The broader risk, he noted, includes increased cases of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attacks, especially among individuals who can no longer afford essential medication due to price hikes and the withdrawal of pharmaceutical companies from the country. He described the situation as a “vicious cycle” where physical, mental, and economic challenges are feeding off each other.
Dr. Samuel Aladejare, a consultant psychiatrist, emphasized that happiness triggers the release of dopamine, a hormone crucial for motivation. He noted that the inability to meet basic needs—food, shelter, security, and social interaction—has driven up mental health challenges. He listed rising food prices, recurring kidnappings, police brutality, and mass migration as factors that continue to chip away at the national psyche. He cautioned that the consequences of long-term unhappiness include insomnia, low energy, depression, and poor concentration, conditions that increase the risk of errors at work and deteriorate health.
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Regardless of the bleak outlook, the mental health experts urge Nigerians to cling to hope and prioritize small steps toward emotional wellness. Professor Obindo encourages community support, especially during Lent and Ramadan, and reminds citizens that hope is essential. He calls on the privileged to assist those in need. Dr. Aladejare recommends regular movement, rest, healthy eating, and emotional outlets like music or faith. He also advises avoiding distressing news and embracing moments of gratitude to cope with the nation’s current economic and emotional strain.