Lagos State government has raised concerns over the impact of social media and foreign influences on children’s mental health, calling for stronger preventive measures and improved parental guidance to protect young people.
Tolu Ajomale, who represented the state’s Commissioner for Health at Vanguard’s Mental Health Summit in Lagos today, said children were increasingly exposed to information and ideas that might not reflect their local realities.
He warned that unrestricted access to global content could influence how young Nigerians perceive themselves and cope with life’s challenges.
“Opening access also means introducing foreign concepts,” Ajomale said, explaining that a 10-year-old child in Yaba, Lagos, could compare themselves with a child of the same age in California despite their different backgrounds and environments.
He noted that young people were becoming more open about their emotional struggles, including anxiety, anger and dissatisfaction with life, but stressed the need to provide appropriate support and guidance.
Ajomale recalled interacting with secondary school pupils who expressed concerns about their lives and achievements despite their young ages.
“One of them said, ‘I’m 16. I haven’t done much with my life,’” he recounted, highlighting the need for adults to listen to children without judging them.
“No, specialists. We don’t judge. We listen,” he said, urging greater understanding of young people’s mental health concerns.
According to him, the growing demand for mental health services also exposes gaps in Nigeria’s capacity to provide adequate care, including shortages of hospital beds and specialists.
He argued that expanding treatment facilities alone would not be sufficient, advocating a shift towards preventive mental health measures.
“We don’t have enough beds to manage mental illnesses. We don’t have enough specialists to manage mental illnesses,” Ajomale said.
He also expressed concern that children were losing touch with local knowledge and social skills while learning from online sources that might not prepare them to navigate their immediate environments.
Ajomale said parents, schools, communities and government had responsibilities in equipping young people with practical knowledge and the skills needed to manage everyday challenges.
He urged stakeholders to communicate with younger generations in ways they could understand, providing context that would help them make informed decisions.
The Lagos health official further called for a clearer distinction between mental health and mental illness, noting that people could experience poor mental health without necessarily having a diagnosable illness.
“Our goal is to promote good mental health,” he said, adding that young people needed access to support, mentorship and guidance to help them navigate life’s difficulties.
