Nigerian rapper Oludemilade Martin Alejo, known as YCee, has disclosed that he has been living with bipolar disorder since 2020, highlighting the severe shortage of mental health specialists in Nigeria. The 33-year-old made the revelation during an interview on Arise TV, where he detailed his diagnosis in London and the challenges of continuing treatment in his home country.
Diagnosis and early struggles
YCee said he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in London in 2020 after a series of hospital visits. 'I have been living with bipolar disorder since 2020. I was diagnosed in London because I was in London during that period, and I was in and out of hospital. I went through different diagnoses before we arrived at that,' he explained. He recalled that before 2020, mental health was not a topic he had ever meaningfully engaged with, describing it as largely absent from Nigerian conversations at the time.
Nigeria's mental health infrastructure gap
Upon returning to Lagos to continue treatment, YCee encountered a stark reality. '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. As at 2024, there was very little staffing within mental health; psychiatrists, psychologists, and people that are supposed to be servicing those fields,' he said. He argued that the problem extends beyond mental health, pointing to a broader collapse in Nigeria's healthcare system that leaves millions without access to basic medical care.
Stigma and societal attitudes
YCee also addressed the stigma surrounding mental illness in Nigeria. '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,' he noted. He added that his decision to speak publicly about his condition has drawn questions from people who do not understand why he keeps raising the subject.
Impact on music career
The rapper revealed that his mental health struggles contributed to a prolonged absence from music. His 2021 project Love Drunk received far less promotion than it deserved because of the state he was in at the time. YCee contrasted the mental health support available in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic—where helplines and services remained visible—with the lack of resources in Nigeria.
