‘At 2am, it feels like someone’s there’: why Nigerians are choosing chatbots to give them advice and therapy | Global health

AI Chatbots Fill Nigeria’s Mental Health Gap Amid Funding Crisis and Stigma

In the heart of Abuja, 23-year-old Joy Adeboye found herself trapped in a cycle of fear and isolation after rejecting a man she met at church. What began as a simple refusal spiraled into relentless online harassment—intimidating messages, false accusations, and even death threats. With no one to turn to and therapy out of reach, Adeboye turned to an unlikely source of comfort: a WhatsApp chatbot named Chat Kemi.

“Good evening, Resilient Joy,” the bot typed. “How are you today?” Adeboye hesitated, then poured out her heart: “Someone is defaming me online and threatening to kill me because I refused to date him. I am depressed and confused. What should I do?” The chatbot’s advice—deactivate social media and report the threats to a trusted person—offered a lifeline. For the first time in months, Adeboye felt less alone.

Adeboye’s story is part of a growing trend in Nigeria, where AI-powered mental health platforms are stepping in to fill a critical gap. The country’s healthcare system, already underfunded, has been further strained by the dismantling of USAID programs, leaving millions without access to essential services. With fewer than 300 psychiatrists for a population of 240 million, and over 90% of Nigerians uninsured, traditional therapy is often out of reach. Cultural stigma compounds the problem, with mental illness often misunderstood as spiritual weakness or witchcraft.

Enter AI chatbots like Chat Kemi, FriendnPal, and Blueroomcare. These platforms offer free or affordable mental health support, connecting users with licensed therapists, mood tracking tools, and even ASMR resources to alleviate stress. FriendnPal, founded by Esther Eruchie after her mother’s battle with depression, has facilitated over 10,000 therapy sessions in the past year. Blueroomcare, created by Moses Aiyenuro after his own struggles with depression, aims to “lower the barriers to care” with pay-as-you-go therapy plans.

For users like Oluwakemi Oluwakayode, a mother of four in Lagos, these platforms provide a safe space to share her struggles. “Sometimes, it gave very standard replies,” she admits. “But I could finally say things I couldn’t share with my family. That alone gave me relief.” Oluwakayode’s eight-year-old daughter suffers from cerebral palsy, and the emotional toll has been immense. The chatbot became her confidant, easing her into eventual in-person therapy.

Yet, experts caution that AI chatbots are not a replacement for professional care. Dr. Nihinlola Olowe, a psychologist, emphasizes that while these tools borrow from clinical methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), they lack the depth and judgment of human therapists. “They can be useful for coping, but they cannot replace the depth or judgment of professional care,” she says.

Privacy concerns also loom large. Cybersecurity expert Avril Eyewu-Edero warns that without robust data protection laws, sensitive information shared with AI platforms could be vulnerable. Founders of these services insist they use end-to-end encryption and strict non-sharing policies, but the lack of enforceable AI-specific regulations in Nigeria leaves room for uncertainty.

Medical professionals are calling for urgent government action to develop national standards for AI in healthcare. Dr. Alero Roberts, a public health consultant, stresses the importance of human intervention in crisis situations. “Robots can’t interpret human emotion as humans do. For people in crisis, like suicidal thoughts or psychosis, human contact is crucial,” she says.

Despite these challenges, the rise of AI chatbots in Nigeria represents a beacon of hope for millions. For Adeboye, Oluwakayode, and countless others, these platforms offer a lifeline in a system that has long failed them. As Oluwakayode puts it, “I know it’s not a real human. But at 2am, it feels like someone is there for me. And that’s enough to keep me going.”

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