By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos State Government has launched the Lagos State Mental Health Directory, a centralised digital registry designed to streamline access to verified mental health services across the state. Officially named the Lagos Community of Mental Health Providers (LCP) Directory, the platform was introduced at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, under the coordination of Dr. Tolu Ajomale, Head of Special Projects and Mental Health.
Dr. Ajomale described the launch as a “historic and system-shaping milestone,” noting that Lagos—despite hosting Nigeria’s largest concentration of mental-health professionals—has long lacked a unified information hub, making access to credible services difficult for residents.
The new directory, he explained, provides a single, trusted, real-time platform where individuals, families, health workers, policymakers, and development partners can easily identify licensed mental-health providers, their specialties, locations, and accessibility. “This platform replaces confusion with clarity, isolation with collaboration, and misinformation with accountability,” he said.
The initiative aligns with the Lagos State Mental Health Law (2018), the THEMES+ Agenda, and the Ministry’s broader commitment to strengthening public and primary healthcare. It captures both clinical and non-clinical providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, therapists, social workers, NGOs, digital platforms, research institutions, community groups, support networks, and diaspora practitioners offering virtual services.
Dr. Ajomale highlighted several benefits of the directory, including improved public access to credible mental-health resources, stronger referral systems, enhanced visibility for practitioners, and support for research, planning, and policy implementation. He said these features position Lagos as a national leader in mental-health system reform.
Registration for the directory—available at www.lagosmind.org/providers
