A New Year, Lingering Stress: Mental Wellbeing in Nigeria Today

A new year often comes with expectations of hope, renewal, and fresh beginnings. Decorations may come down, celebrations fade, and social media fills with declarations of new goals and optimism. Yet for many Nigerians, the pressures of the previous year do not disappear with the calendar change. Instead, they follow quietly into the new year.

Stress is real, and it affects people across genders, ages, and households.

In Nigeria, economic uncertainty, rising living costs, insecurity, unemployment, and limited access to healthcare continue to weigh heavily on individuals and families. School fees roll into a new term. Rent and housing concerns remain unresolved.

Caregiving responsibilities, job instability, and family expectations persist. For many, the new year begins not with relief, but with the same unanswered questions about stability and survival.

While these pressures are shared, they are often experienced differently due to gender expectations. Men are frequently expected to be providers, problem solvers, and emotional anchors. Women are often expected to manage households, nurture families, care for others, and remain emotionally resilient regardless of personal strain. In both cases, society rarely pauses to ask a simple but important question: How are you coping?

For individuals facing unemployment, underemployment, or unstable income, the pressure can be especially overwhelming. The fear of not meeting expectations can lead to shame, withdrawal, and silence. Many people carry this weight alone, believing they must endure quietly rather than seek support.

Stress does not stay only in the mind. It often shows up in the body and in daily behavior. Persistent headaches, fatigue, sleep problems, irritability, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating are common signs. Some people become emotionally distant from loved ones. Others turn to alcohol or unhealthy coping habits, not out of choice, but because they do not know where else to place their emotions.

Mental health remains a deeply stigmatized topic in Nigeria. Public health conversations often prioritize physical illness, which is essential, but emotional and psychological wellbeing is frequently overlooked. When mental health is discussed, it is often framed as a personal weakness rather than a shared public health concern. This stigma prevents many people from speaking openly or seeking help, even when they are struggling.

The new year also brings reflection. People look back at goals set months earlier and measure them against their current reality. When progress feels slow or invisible, self-criticism can creep in. Anxiety, low mood, and feelings of failure may follow, even when circumstances such as economic hardship or systemic challenges are beyond individual control.

At Lady Adaure Outreach Foundation, we believe mental wellbeing is not a luxury. It is a critical public health priority. When individuals are mentally unwell, families are strained, productivity suffers, and communities feel the impact. Supporting mental health is essential to building healthier, more resilient Nigerian communities.

Support does not always require grand solutions. Often, it begins with simple actions:Checking in on a friend, sibling, partner, or colleague.Creating space for honest conversations without judgment.Encouraging rest, balance, and healthier ways to cope with stress. Reminding one another that worth is not defined solely by income, productivity, or perfection.

As we move forward into this new year, let us shift the narrative around strength and wellbeing. Strength is not silence. Strength is recognizing when support is needed and allowing ourselves and others to receive it.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. And if you know someone who is carrying more than they say, your care and compassion could make more difference than you realize.