Foundation, experts decry rising trauma among Nigerian girls amid mental health gaps

Mental health experts and the Ladies of Virtue and Excellence foundation have expressed concerns over rising cases of trauma among Nigerian girls, linking the trend to widespread abuse and limited access mental health care in the country.

Speaking at the Chayil Girls Conference 7.0 in Abuja on Wednesday themed “Bloom: From Trauma to Triumph,” Aderonke Olisa, founder of the foundation and convener of the confernece decried that cases of trauma among young Nigerians, especially girls, were worsening.

She noted these mental health crisis is largely fueled by domestic violence, sexual abuse, parental neglect, dysfunctional family relationships, the growing pressures of social media, among others. “Social media itself is traumatising,” she said.

“There’s so much comparison and fakeness that disconnects these girls from real life. If we don’t arrest this now, we’ll have a generation of mentally ill women in the future and if mentally unstable women raise the next generation, what happens to the country’s future?”, she added.

Olisa, regretted that many Nigerian girls lack access to safe spaces or counselling services where they can express and process their trauma.

“Unfortunately, there are not enough platforms for girls to communicate trauma as it should be. Many don’t even know the few platforms exist. That’s why we are collaborating with technical partners who will provide free counselling and mental health support”, she explained.

Olisa said the conference, which brought together over 200 girls from nine public and private secondary schools, aims to create awareness, promote self-discovery, and help participants begin a conscious journey to healing.

She described the initiative as a “Catch Them Young” mental health intervention designed to break cycles of emotional pain and prepare girls for purpose-driven, wholesome lives.

According to her, the conference does not only create awareness on mental health issues, but help young girls identify and heal from any form of trauma, while also linking them to available platforms.
She revealed that many women in Nigeria are living with unaddressed childhood trauma that continues to shape their adult lives.

“The essence of this programme is to stop the cycle of women living dysfunctional lives because of trauma,” Olisa said.

“I came from a background that traumatised me as a child. When I turned 30, I realised most of my life decisions were based on that trauma. I didn’t recognise it until therapy helped me trace it. I knew then that if I had the opportunity these girls have now to identify their trauma, my life would have been different”, she said.

Olisa, further called on government to strengthen mental health services within primary health centres, recruit and train youth-friendly therapists, and partner with non government organisation to make such services accessible to vulnerable groups.

“Mental health therapy is costly. If government can place trained counsellors in every primary health care centre, girls can easily access help”, she urged.

Olisa, who shared her own experience of childhood trauma, said her journey to healing inspired her to start the Chayil Girls initiative.

“When I reconnected with the hurt girl I once was, I became free. That’s why I believe in catching them young because trauma shapes who you are, how you view life, and how you build a family”, she added.

Muhammad Sanusi, a resident doctor with Secure the Future Initiative, which partnered in the programme, confirmed that trauma among young girls is on the rise, often stemming from neglect, domestic violence, or sexual abuse.

“We see many of these cases in our clinics. Some are victims of rape, others suffer emotional or physical neglect. The government needs to increase awareness because many people feel abandoned. With proper awareness and support for existing initiatives, more victims can get help”, Sanusi said.

Tabitha Abimiku, a social entrepreneur, said the lack of inclusive policymaking remains a major barrier to addressing the health needs of girls, including mental healthcare.

“Policies are often developed without including girls in the conversation. For any sustainable impact, we must co-create solutions with the girls, for the girls, and by the girls. That’s where transformation will happen,” she said.

She emphasised that mental health programmes must move beyond one-off interventions to long-term strategies that engage young women as key stakeholders in shaping responses that affect their wellbeing.

Joy Adibu, a JSS2 student of Junior Secondary School, Kubwa, said she learned the importance of speaking up about personal challenges rather than keeping them bottled up.

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“I’ve learnt that whenever you’re going through trauma, you should speak up for yourself. Don’t keep things to yourself, let people know how you feel inside. Too much thinking can make it worse, so it’s better to talk about what’s bothering you so others can help you figure out your problems”, she said.

She called on government to do more stating that “Girls are going through a lot these days.”

“The government should provide more mental health support in schools and ensure that there are professionals, like counsellors and doctors, who can help”, she urged.

Faith Oluseyi, a student of Excel University School, said the conference helped her understand trauma and how to find safe spaces for support.

“I learnt what trauma means and how to identify safe places — it could be among friends or in a group of girls,” she said. “I also learnt that you should always speak out to your parents, teacher, siblings or a trusted friend.”