Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Nigeria’s widely recognised culture of “suffering and smiling” may conceal emotional distress and discourage people from seeking professional mental health support, experts have warned, calling for a more culturally sensitive approach to mental healthcare that recognises the realities of people’s lives.
The warning was raised at the maiden Nigerian Mental Health Summit, organised to commemorate World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2026. Discussions at the virtual event examined how cultural expectations, family responsibilities, migration experiences and social pressures influence the way Nigerians experience and communicate emotional difficulties.
The experts argued that although resilience, faith, humour and endurance can help people cope with difficult circumstances, these qualities can also make it harder for individuals to acknowledge when they are struggling emotionally.
In a society where people are frequently encouraged to remain strong despite financial hardship, personal disappointment and family obligations, emotional suffering may be dismissed as ordinary stress or something that should be endured privately.
The concern, according to the experts, is not that Nigerians should abandon resilience or cultural values. Rather, they should be able to acknowledge emotional difficulties without fear of judgement and access appropriate support when necessary.
How ‘Suffering and Smiling’ Can Conceal Emotional Distress
Kehinde Ekpudu, a clinical social worker based in Canada, told the summit that cultural expectations surrounding strength and endurance could influence how people recognise and communicate emotional distress.
She identified familiar Nigerian expressions such as “I’m just tired,” “I’m stressed,” “I cannot come and kill myself,” “I’m thinking too much” and “It is well” as examples of language people may use when describing difficult experiences.
Such expressions are part of everyday Nigerian communication and do not automatically indicate a mental health problem. However, Ekpudu stressed the importance of understanding the emotions and circumstances behind the words rather than relying solely on what people say.
She explained that cultural identity, family relationships and religious faith can provide valuable emotional support. At the same time, expectations that people must remain strong regardless of their circumstances can make it difficult for them to acknowledge vulnerability or seek help.
Ekpudu urged mental health professionals to consider the cultural and personal experiences of those seeking assistance, rather than interpreting their difficulties without understanding the context in which they occur.
Her argument highlights a challenge for mental healthcare in culturally diverse societies: people may experience distress in ways shaped by their upbringing, community expectations, religious beliefs and everyday language.
A person who repeatedly says that everything is fine may genuinely be coping well. Another may be using familiar expressions to avoid discussing painful experiences. Understanding the difference requires sensitive communication rather than assumptions.
Outward Success Does Not Always Mean Emotional Well-being
The summit also examined the tendency to judge people’s emotional well-being by their outward appearance, professional achievements or ability to fulfil responsibilities.
Ekpudu warned that individuals could appear successful and continue meeting family and workplace obligations while privately experiencing loneliness, emotional exhaustion or unmet expectations.
This can make emotional difficulties difficult to recognise, particularly when people feel that acknowledging their struggles would disappoint their families or undermine their reputation as dependable individuals.
The pressure may be particularly strong among people expected to provide financially for relatives, support children, maintain relationships or demonstrate professional success despite personal setbacks.
In such circumstances, keeping quiet about emotional distress may become a way of maintaining appearances.
However, continuing to work, socialise or meet responsibilities does not necessarily establish that a person is emotionally healthy. Equally, experiencing stress or sadness does not automatically mean someone has a mental health condition.
The distinction matters because mental health concerns should be assessed carefully rather than inferred from appearance or everyday behaviour.
A more supportive environment would allow people to discuss their difficulties without being labelled weak, ungrateful or incapable of handling life’s challenges.
For families, employers and community leaders, this means recognising that someone can be productive and outwardly cheerful while still needing understanding, rest or professional assistance.
Migration and the Pressure to Start Again
Migration was another important issue discussed at the summit, particularly its potential effects on Nigerians who relocate abroad in search of better opportunities.
Ekpudu explained that moving to another country can expose people to unfamiliar social expectations, different professional systems and the loss of established support networks.
Although migration can offer educational, professional and economic opportunities, adjusting to a new environment may also introduce pressures that are not immediately visible to friends and relatives.
Some Nigerian professionals who move abroad may struggle to secure employment in their original fields, forcing them to rebuild their careers. Others may take multiple jobs to meet financial obligations or maintain expectations associated with success.
These experiences can create tension between the opportunities people hope to gain from migration and the personal sacrifices required to establish themselves in a new country.
People may also feel pressure to present their relocation as a success, particularly when relatives at home expect financial support or believe that living abroad automatically guarantees a comfortable life.
When difficulties arise, they may hesitate to discuss them because of the fear of disappointing others or appearing unsuccessful.
The result can be a gap between a person’s public image and private experience.
Ekpudu cautioned against interpreting constant endurance as proof of good mental health. She argued that healthcare professionals must consider the wider experiences, relationships and identity challenges that may contribute to emotional difficulties.
Her observations point to the importance of culturally responsive mental healthcare for migrants, including services that recognise the pressures of displacement, changing identities, professional uncertainty and separation from familiar support systems.
Why Cultural Sensitivity Matters in Mental Healthcare
Mental health support is more effective when people can explain their experiences in language they understand and feel comfortable discussing.
For Nigerian patients, this may involve understanding the roles of family relationships, religious communities, cultural expectations and economic pressures in shaping their experiences.
A culturally sensitive approach does not mean assuming that all Nigerians think or behave alike. Nigeria’s population includes people from different ethnic, religious, linguistic and socioeconomic backgrounds, each with distinct experiences and expectations.
Instead, it requires healthcare professionals to listen carefully, avoid stereotypes and understand how individual circumstances influence the way people describe their difficulties.
For example, a person may initially describe emotional exhaustion as excessive thinking or tiredness rather than using clinical terminology. A professional who dismisses such language may miss an opportunity to understand the person’s concerns.
Conversely, assuming that every expression of fatigue or sadness signals a mental health disorder would also be inappropriate.
The goal is to create space for meaningful conversations in which individuals can describe their experiences without embarrassment and receive appropriate assessment.
Community education can support this process by helping people understand that emotional well-being deserves attention alongside physical health.
It can also encourage families and employers to respond constructively when someone expresses distress instead of immediately demanding that the person become stronger or simply endure the situation.
Federal Government Outlines Mental Health and Brain Health Plans
At the summit, Dr Tunde Ojo, the National Mental Health Programme Coordinator at the Federal Ministry of Health, outlined ongoing government efforts to improve mental health awareness and coordination.
According to a report by Punch, Ojo said the ministry was working towards large-scale destigmatisation of mental health conditions. He also acknowledged that the National Mental Health App had not yet been fully implemented.
The announcement highlights the difference between establishing a policy direction and ensuring that support reaches people who need it.
Public awareness campaigns can help challenge stigma, but their impact also depends on whether individuals can obtain appropriate information, assessment and care.
Ojo also announced the creation of a dedicated brain health desk under the National Mental Health Programme, following a policy decision made in July during World Brain Health Day.
He said the desk would coordinate brain health-related activities across Nigeria and develop a national brain health development agenda.
According to the report, Ojo explained that neurological care and neuroscience had previously lacked a clearly defined place at the policy level, making improved coordination necessary.
The ministry intends to engage stakeholders in developing a roadmap for brain health in Nigeria.
The initiative could help bring greater coordination to discussions and policies concerning brain health. However, its practical effect will depend on the resulting plans, implementation arrangements and the extent to which services become accessible to the public.
Mental health and neurological conditions are not identical, although both form important parts of broader brain and human health discussions. Effective planning requires attention to their different needs while identifying opportunities for coordinated action.
Calls for a Coordinated National Response
Oluyinka Oyeniji, convener of the Nigerian Mental Health Summit, stressed the need for a coordinated national approach that reflects the different experiences and backgrounds of Nigerians.
According to Punch, Oyeniji said efforts were ongoing to establish a federal Mental Health Commission. He also discussed the status of mental health legislation at the federal and state levels.
A coordinated approach could help clarify responsibilities among institutions, strengthen collaboration and improve the consistency of mental health initiatives.
However, the effectiveness of any proposed commission would depend on its legal mandate, resources, institutional arrangements and ability to support practical improvements in care.
Mental health policy must also address the circumstances in which people live and work. Awareness alone cannot remove every barrier to care, particularly when individuals face financial difficulties, limited access to services or fear of discrimination.
Philip Jakpor, executive director of the Renevlyn Development Initiative, also spoke at the summit about the pressures facing Nigerians.
He identified difficulties such as property demolitions and the challenge of providing for families as circumstances that can affect people’s mental well-being.
Jakpor pledged continued collaboration with the Human Rights Foundation to raise awareness and encourage public engagement on mental health issues.
His remarks reinforced the importance of considering the wider social conditions that can contribute to emotional distress.
Housing insecurity, financial responsibilities and uncertainty about the future can affect people’s sense of stability. Responding to mental health concerns therefore requires attention not only to individual experiences but also to the circumstances surrounding them.
Economic Pressure and the Need for Accessible Support
For many Nigerians, discussions about emotional well-being take place against the background of daily responsibilities and financial uncertainty.
The need to earn a living, support dependants, pay for accommodation and meet other household expenses can leave people with limited time or resources to address personal difficulties.
These pressures do not affect everyone in the same way, and financial hardship alone does not determine whether someone will develop a mental health condition. Nevertheless, prolonged stress and difficult living circumstances can make emotional well-being harder to maintain.
People may postpone seeking help because they cannot afford the cost, do not know where to turn or believe their difficulties are not serious enough to deserve attention.
Others may fear that discussing their feelings will expose them to ridicule or damage their standing within their families and communities.
Reducing these barriers requires more than encouraging people to speak openly. It also requires accessible information, appropriate professional support and environments in which people can seek assistance without unnecessary stigma.
Workplaces, educational institutions, community organisations and religious groups can contribute by promoting respectful conversations and directing people towards qualified support when needed.
They should not be expected to replace professional mental healthcare, but they can help make seeking assistance more acceptable.
The Difference Between Resilience and Silent Suffering
The expression “suffering and smiling” has become a familiar way of describing Nigerians’ ability to maintain humour and optimism despite adversity.
Its cultural significance is closely associated with the 1978 song Shuffering and Shmiling by Afrobeat musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, which criticised aspects of social and religious life. The phrase has since become widely used to describe the contradiction between visible cheerfulness and difficult circumstances.
Resilience can be valuable. Humour, supportive relationships, religious faith and a sense of community may help people navigate uncertainty and hardship.
The concern raised by mental health experts is that resilience should not become an expectation that people must remain silent about their pain.
There is a difference between choosing to cope with a difficult situation and feeling unable to admit that the situation has become overwhelming.
When people are encouraged to conceal every difficulty, their families and friends may struggle to recognise when they need support. Individuals may also delay seeking help because they have come to regard emotional suffering as something they must simply endure.
A healthier understanding of resilience would allow people to acknowledge hardship, seek assistance and continue working towards their goals without treating vulnerability as a personal failure.
It would also recognise that people can be grateful for their lives, maintain their faith or appreciate moments of happiness while experiencing genuine difficulties.
These experiences are not mutually exclusive.
World Mental Health Day Highlights the Importance of Listening
The summit was organised in connection with World Mental Health Day, observed internationally on October 10.
The World Health Organisation’s theme for the 2026 observance was reported as “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.”
The emphasis on lived experience reflects the importance of listening to people who have experienced mental health challenges and considering their perspectives when developing services and public policies.
For Nigeria, the discussion about “suffering and smiling” illustrates why public messaging must reflect the language, experiences and pressures of the communities it seeks to reach.
Campaigns that simply tell people to be strong may fail to address the reasons they are reluctant to seek help. Equally, messages that dismiss cultural values may alienate the very communities they are intended to support.
A more constructive approach would recognise the strengths people draw from their culture while encouraging them to talk openly about emotional difficulties.
It would also make clear that seeking professional assistance, when necessary, is compatible with personal strength, religious faith and family responsibility.
What Happens Next?
The next steps identified at the summit include the Federal Ministry of Health’s work on mental health destigmatisation, the proposed development of a national brain health agenda and continued engagement towards a more coordinated national response.
The ministry’s brain health desk is expected to coordinate related activities and support the development of a roadmap. The National Mental Health App also remains an implementation issue, according to the report of the summit.
The proposed federal Mental Health Commission represents another area to watch, although the practical timeline and final arrangements were not established in the information available for this report.
For now, the experts’ central message is that Nigerians should not have to hide emotional difficulties behind a public display of strength.
Families, employers, communities and healthcare professionals all have a role in making it easier for people to express distress and seek appropriate assistance.
The broader challenge is to ensure that mental health awareness leads to practical support rather than remaining a subject of discussion during commemorative events.
Nigeria’s culture of endurance and optimism need not disappear. Instead, it can coexist with an understanding that people sometimes need help, that emotional distress deserves to be taken seriously and that outward appearances cannot tell the whole story.
Recognising the limits of silent endurance may be an important step towards a society in which people can acknowledge their struggles without shame and obtain support before their difficulties become harder to manage.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch — report on the Nigerian Mental Health Summit and warnings from mental health experts.
- World Health Organisation — World Mental Health Day and its reported 2026 theme.
- Leuphana University Lüneburg — academic research on the phenomenon of “suffering and smiling” among Nigerians.
