Years back, the topic of mental health and mental illness is a topic that most Nigerians shy away from. This is as a result of the misconception of what mental health and illness entails. Most Nigerians think it is a Whiteman’s illness, they only know about being physically ill. Others feel you have to be on the road, dress shabbily and feeding from roadside trash cans before you can be classified as being mentally ill, other than that it is an abomination to think of yourself ill mentally.
With the advent of social media, people have become more vocal and expressive of the issues they are going through. The difficulty of living in the country that is structured to limit it’s citizens and the effect of this on their mental health.
In celebrating Mental Health Awareness this month of May, here are a list of Nigerian movies that focuses on mental health.
Oga John (2019)
Oga John is a 10 minute short film directed by Tolu Ajayi and produced by Bolanle Akintomide starring Ade Laoye and Joseph Imoikor. In Oga John we are introduced to Alero, a young lady suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a sickness no one seems to understand.
This story brings to light the average Nigerian society that believes that anything they can’t give an explanation to can be prayed away.
Her Perfect Life (2023)
Written and directed by MO Abudu .
Onajite Johnson-Ibrahim is a lady everyone wants to be like. At 39, she had achieved a flourishing career, a loving husband and two wonderful kids.
While everyone saw a lady living her dreams, beneath that veil is a lady struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. It brings to note that even those who look like they have it all figured out are also going through issues they can’t talk about because their appearance does not afford them the luxury to be anything other than perfect. So they suffer in silence.
Iyawo Mi (2023)
Kunle is a driver in an affluent area of Lagos, Nigeria. Like every other night, he drives his employer home and then returns to his own family.
However, this night is different. When Kunle arrives home, he is confronted with a horrifying scene: his wife, Eniola, appears to have lost her mind. She is hallucinating, screaming at their children and neighbors in their cramped housing, and threatening to kill everyone. Kunle decides to take matters into his own hands, resulting in a chain of events that lead to death and murder. This movie is directed by MO Abudu.
I‘m Not Fine (2022)
I’m Not Fine by Lota Chukwu centers on the mental health challenges faced by individuals in Nigeria. It chronicles the lives of six adults as they share their personal stories and discuss their struggles with issues such as depression and attempted suicide.
For Maria: Ebun Pataki (2020)
Derin experiences a difficult labor before giving birth to her first child, Maria. Afterward, she becomes withdrawn and is unable to engage in the celebrations or care for her baby. Her mother-in-law, not comprehending Derin’s struggle, verbally attacks her, accusing her of being a bad mother. This movie tells the story of Nigerian mothers who have struggled or currently struggling with postpartum depression.
The above movies advocate for Nigerians experiencing various mental health issues. They raise awareness that these individuals are normal people burdened by societal issues, or hurt and abuse from friends or family members. They are not mad and shouldn’t be stigmatized. It is perfectly okay to be mentally ill, just as it is to be physically ill. Like physical illnesses, mental illnesses also require drug treatment, love, and care from family members, not differential treatment.
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