On the occasion of World Mental Health Day in 2025, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called attention to the significant, yet often overlooked, mental health consequences of child malnutrition in northern Nigeria.1 The organization is urging for a more comprehensive approach that addresses both the physical and psychological toll of the crisis.
According to MSF, the burden of malnutrition in the region has reached alarming levels.2 In 2024, more than 300,000 malnourished children were treated in MSF facilities across seven states, including Zamfara, Kano, and Borno, marking a 25% increase from the previous year.3
The Psychological Impact of Malnutrition
Beyond the visible physical symptoms, MSF highlights that malnutrition leaves deep psychological scars on children and their caregivers. According to Kauna Hope Bako, an MSF Mental Health Supervisor in Bauchi, the effects of malnutrition are not just physical but also psychological, emotional, and behavioral.4 Malnourished children often become irritable, withdrawn, or unresponsive, and may struggle to meet developmental milestones like walking and talking.5
The link between malnutrition and mental health is two-way:
- Emotional distress can contribute to malnutrition: Factors such as emotional neglect, stress, or abuse can worsen a child’s nutritional status.6
- Poor nutrition can worsen psychological distress: A lack of essential nutrients can lead to a state of constant stress and anxiety, and can increase a child’s vulnerability to mental health disorders later in life, such as anxiety and depression.7
MSF’s Integrated Approach to Care
To combat this, MSF has introduced mental health support in its feeding centers across northern Nigeria.8 This integrated approach aims to treat the whole child, not just the physical illness.
Key components of this approach include:
- Daily mental health sessions: Held in playrooms within the centers, these sessions include psycho-stimulation therapy, stress management training, support groups, and individual counseling for both children and their caregivers.
- Caregiver support: Recognizing the heavy emotional burden on caregivers, MSF provides them with support to help manage their own stress, which can positively impact the child’s well-being.9
- Staff training: All medical staff are being trained in psychological first aid and effective communication to ensure a compassionate and supportive environment.
Between January and June 2025, MSF admitted over 32,900 severely malnourished children to inpatient centers and more than 136,000 to outpatient centers in northern Nigeria. During the same period, their teams conducted over 30,800 mental health sessions. In Bauchi alone, psychological support has been provided to over 113,000 children and caregivers since 2024.
MSF’s integrated approach has shown encouraging results, with faster recovery rates and greater emotional resilience among families. The organization emphasized that every child deserves to not just survive, but to thrive in both body and mind.
