‘Emotional abuse from spouses, hardship fuelling mental disorders among men’

A toxic combination of harsh economic hardship and quiet emotional abuse from spouses is driving a sharp rise in mental health disorders among Nigerian men, a leading medical expert has warned.

Professor Ayodele Coker, a specialist in Behavioural Medicine at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) in Ikeja, raised the alarm . He revealed that societal expectations, coupled with deteriorating financial conditions, have created a silent psychological crisis for men across the country.

At the core of the crisis is a deeply ingrained cultural pressure for men to conceal their vulnerability. Professor Coker noted that instead of seeking help, many Nigerian men choose absolute silence while absorbing intense stress at work, on the streets, and within their homes.

"We have to talk about men's mental health because men don't speak out about what they are going through. They tend to repress their emotions. This reluctance to seek help heavily contributes to worsening mental health disorders and unhealthy coping mechanisms, including suicide."

This emotional suppression often manifests outwardly as sudden irritability, explosive anger, or withdrawal—behavioral changes that family members frequently misunderstand or misinterpret as simple aggression rather than signs of deep psychological distress.

The current economic climate has heavily worsened these vulnerabilities. Prof. Coker pointed out that financial identity is closely tied to a man's sense of worth in society, and when that capability is stripped away, domestic relationships often sour.

*Financial Disempowerment:** Rising costs mean many fathers can no longer easily afford basic necessities, like fueling family vehicles or funding standard household running costs.
*Spousal Hostility:* "The family, the spouse—they are often not kind to men who have lost their jobs or men who lack financial abilities," Coker stated, identifying spousal emotional abuse during financial droughts as a major trigger for mental collapse.
*Substance Abuse:* To numb the psychological pain of job loss or business failure, an increasing number of men are turning to alcohol and cannabis, which further accelerates mental decline.

The behavioral medicine expert cited alarming data illustrating the societal fallout of unaddressed male psychological trauma. He emphasized that the mental health crisis directly feeds into broader national issues of homelessness and crime.

| Demographic Profile | Statistical Impact / Warning Signs |
| Institutional Population | *80% to 90%* of prison inmates and individuals convicted of homicide are men. |
| *Vulnerable Populations* | The vast majority of homeless individuals and street urchins across major cities are men. |
| *Depression Metric* | Roughly **6 million men** struggle with clinical depression each year (Mental Health Coalition). |
| *Suicide Disparity* | Men are nearly **four times more likely** to die by suicide than women (National Alliance on Mental Illness). |

Common warning signs that a man is slipping into severe depression include chronic fatigue, persistent irritability, sudden loss of interest in work or hobbies, erratic sleep changes, and expressed feelings of numbness or hopelessness.

To prevent the mental health crisis from deteriorating further, Professor Coker urged men to dismantle the wall of silence and aggressively seek out trusted listeners. He emphasized that vocalizing difficulties is one of the most effective defensive measures against psychological collapse.

Recognizing that many men feel they lack a safe space or a trusted peer to confide in, he advised looking toward community support systems. "They need to speak out. We should not deny or repress our emotions. Seek support from social workers, counselors, imams, pastors, or anyone who has a listening ear," he urged.

Additionally, Coker called on families and spouses to practice empathy and patience rather than hostility during economic downturns, noting that emotional stability at home is vital to helping men survive financial adversity.