Abstract

The state of disequilibrium in youth mental health has a direct negative effect on the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria. Mental health includes psychological, emotional, and social well-being, while the SDGs are to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace, prosperity now and in the future. The purpose of this paper is to propose techniques for developing youth mental health in Nigeria for the realisation of the SDGs. The paper has been able to explain the mental health crisis in Nigeria, legislation on mental health, and the concept of sustainable development, among others. The paper further explicates the mechanism for nurturing youth mental health for the realisation of the SDGs. The paper recommends that there should be an increase in support and promotion of mental health using respected public figures like religious leaders in the mosque, church, and establishment of a sin tax and a telecommunications tax, as means of raising public funds for investment in health care generally and on mental health in particular.