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Nigerian rapper Oludemilade Martin Alejo, better known as Ycee, has opened up about his personal battle with mental health challenges and his experience managing bipolar disorder.
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In a recent interview with Arise TV, the rapper revealed that he had to put his treatment on hold after returning to Nigeria because of the limited availability of mental health professionals.
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Ycee shared that he lived with the condition for several years before finally receiving a proper diagnosis. According to him, he spent about six years dealing with symptoms and undergoing different medical evaluations before doctors identified bipolar disorder.
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“I was in and out of the hospital and went through different diagnoses before we arrived at that. Before 2020, I don’t think I had ever heard the phrase ‘mental health’ as a conversation, especially coming from Nigeria. One thing that really stood out while in London is that, as much as they were pushing conversations on COVID, they were also pushing conversations on mental health. There were helplines to call too,” he said.
The “Jagaban” hitmaker also highlighted the challenges facing Nigeria’s mental healthcare system, pointing out the shortage of trained professionals and inadequate support available for people struggling with mental health conditions.
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Ycee explained that although he planned to continue his treatment after returning to Lagos, he discovered that accessing proper care was a major challenge due to the limited number of psychiatrists, psychologists, and other specialists available.
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“I was supposed to continue treatment in Lagos, but that was where I saw how much of a challenge it is to deal with that kind of condition. There was a lack of personnel. I think that in 2024, I might be wrong, but there is very little staffing within mental health psychiatrists, psychologists and people who are supposed to be servicing those fields,” he stated.
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The rapper further noted that mental health issues in Nigeria are often surrounded by stigma, with many people viewing conditions such as depression as problems only associated with wealthy individuals.
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He stressed that beyond mental health, the country also faces wider healthcare challenges, as many Nigerians struggle to access even basic medical services.
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“Where a lot of people believe that if you are depressed, it is a big man’s disease. There is a lot of stigma around it. Recently, I have had people asking me why I am speaking so much on this,” Ycee added.
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Through his openness, Ycee hopes to encourage more conversations about mental health and help reduce the stigma surrounding people living with such conditions.
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