Ycee opens up on his bipolar treatment journey in Nigeria

Nigerian rapper Oludemilade Martin Alejo, popularly known as Ycee has opened up on his mental health and his bipolar disorder treatment.

While speaking with Arise TV, the rapper revealed that he had to pause his treatment after returning to Nigeria due to a shortage of mental health professionals.

Ycee reflected on his experience after being diagnosed, adding that he had battled bipolar disorder for six years before receiving a diagnosis.

“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 stated.

Ycee also spoke about the lack of adequate funding and staffing in the country’s mental healthcare system. He argued that many Nigerians still struggle to access quality medical care.

“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. On a broader scope, as much as we have a problem with mental health, there is a general health problem. You still have people who can instantly access not even premium healthcare, but reasonable healthcare. 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,” he added.