Mental health experts and the Ladies of Virtue and Excellence Foundation have expressed concern over the rising cases of trauma among Nigerian girls, linking the trend to widespread abuse and limited access to mental health care in the country.
Speaking at the Chayil Girls Conference 7.0 in Abuja on Wednesday, with the theme “Bloom: From Trauma to Triumph,” Founder of the Foundation and convener of the conference, Aderonke Olisa, said cases of trauma among young Nigerians, especially girls, are worsening.
He said that this mental health crisis is mainly due to domestic violence, sexual abuse, parental neglect, bad family relationships, increasing pressure of social media etc. “Social media is painful in itself,” he said.
She said, “There is so much comparison and fakery that disconnects these girls from real life. If we don't stop it now, in the future we will have a generation of mentally ill women and if mentally unstable women raise the next generation, what will happen to the future of the country?”
Olisa regrets that many Nigerian girls do not have access to safe spaces or counseling services where they can express and process their trauma.
“Unfortunately, there are not enough platforms for girls to communicate trauma as there should be. Many do not even know that some platforms exist. That is why we are collaborating with technology partners who will provide free counseling and mental health support”, she explained.
Olisa said the conference, which was attended by more than 200 girls from nine public and private secondary schools, aimed to create awareness, promote self-discovery and help participants embark on a conscious journey to healing.
She described the initiative as a “Catch Them Young” mental health intervention designed to break the cycle of emotional pain and prepare girls for purpose-driven, fulfilling lives.
According to her, the conference not only creates awareness on mental health issues but also helps young girls identify and overcome any kind of trauma, as well as connect them with available platforms.
She revealed that many women in Nigeria are living with unrecognized childhood trauma that is shaping their adult lives.
“The essence of this program is to stop the cycle of women living dysfunctional lives due to trauma,” Olisa said.
“I come from a background that traumatized me as a child. When I turned 30, I realized that most of my life decisions were based on that trauma. I didn't recognize it until therapy helped me figure it out. I knew then that if I had had the opportunity to recognize the trauma these girls have now, my life would have been different”, she said.
Olisa further called on the government to strengthen mental health services within primary health centres, recruit and train youth-friendly practitioners, and partner with NGOs to make such services accessible to vulnerable groups.
“Mental health care is expensive. If the government can place trained counselors in every primary health care centre, girls can easily access help,” she urged.
Olisa, who shared her experience of childhood trauma, said her journey of healing inspired her to start the Chayil Girls initiative.
She added, “When I reconnected with the hurt girl I once was, I felt free. So I believe in catching them at an early age because trauma determines who you are, how you look at life and how you build a family.”
Dr Muhammad Sanusi, resident doctor at the Secure the Future Initiative, who participated in the event, confirmed that trauma is on the rise among young girls, often resulting from neglect, domestic violence or sexual abuse.
“We see many such cases in our clinics. Some are victims of rape, others face emotional or physical neglect. The government needs to raise awareness because many 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 policy making remains a major barrier to meeting girls' health needs, including mental health care.
She said, “Policies are often developed without including girls in the conversation. To have any lasting impact, we need to create solutions with girls, for girls, and by girls. This is where change will happen.”
She emphasized that mental health programs must move beyond one-off interventions toward long-term strategies that engage young women as key stakeholders in shaping responses that impact their well-being.
Joy Adibu, a JSS2 student of Junior Secondary School, Kubwa, said she learned the importance of speaking about personal challenges rather than suppressing them.
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She said, “I've learned 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. Thinking too much can make it worse, so it's better to talk about what's troubling you so that other people can help you figure out your problems.”
She called on the government to do more, saying that “girls are going through a lot these days.”
“The government should provide more mental health support in schools and ensure there are professionals, such as counselors and doctors, who can help,” he urged.
Excel University School student Faith Oluseyi said the conference helped her understand trauma and find safe spaces for support.
“I learned what trauma means and how to identify safe spaces — it could be among friends or in a girl group,” she said. “I also learned that you should always talk to your parents, teacher, sibling, or a trusted friend.”
