Nigeria, Oct. 25 -- "Keep life alive."

Those were the words my late teacher, Professor Albert Anjorin, repeated to us in medical school decades ago. They are simple, humane, and rooted in the belief that every life is worth protecting. It is heartbreaking that in 2026, I am hearing the opposite sentiment echoed from the hallowed chambers of Nigeria's National Assembly.

Less than four days after the commemoration of the 2026 World Mental Health Day, a week filled with stories of lived experiences, awareness campaigns, and calls for compassion for persons struggling with mental health challenges and their caregivers, Nigerians were confronted with a statement that shook the conscience of the nation. Words attributed to the Senate Presiden...