Ogundare Ghaffar Opeyemi,Raji Sakiru Olarotimi, Ibrahim Sodiq Olanrewaju, Martins Yunus Oriyomi, Abdullateef Halimah Bolanle

Keywords: Culture, Mental Illness, Awori, Indigenous Healing, Spiritual Aetiology

Abstract

This qualitative study investigates the influence of cultural definitions on the stigmatization of mental illness among the Aworis of Lagos State, Nigeria. Through semi-structured interviews with 35 purposively selected indigenes, community leaders, traditional healers, and caregivers in Iba LCDA, the research explores local perceptions, etiological beliefs, and treatment pathways for conditions like depression and bipolar disorder.
Findings reveal a culturally constructed model of mental health, characterized by a strong reliance on indigenous diagnostic labels, the attribution of illness to spiritual causes or moral failings, and the preference for traditional and religious healing systems over biomedical psychiatry. Depression is understood as a situational emotional burden, while bipolar disorder is subsumed under the undifferentiated category of “madness.” These cultural definitions actively fuel stigma, social exclusion, and delayed help-seeking. The study also documents pragmatic syncretism, where communities blend spiritual, herbal, and modern treatments. The study concludes that stigmatization of mental illness among the Aworis is deeply rooted in cultural meanings and explanatory models. It recommends culturally sensitive mental health interventions that integrate community leaders, traditional practitioners, and religious institutions to promote accurate understanding, reduce stigma, and improve access to appropriate mental health care.

Author Biography

Ogundare Ghaffar Opeyemi,Raji Sakiru Olarotimi, Ibrahim Sodiq Olanrewaju, Martins Yunus Oriyomi, Abdullateef Halimah Bolanle

Department of Sociology, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Email: [email protected]

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