Actress and art curator Chidera Adiele has made a heartfelt appeal for help as she revealed the emotional and financial burden of caring for her younger brother, who has battled drug addiction and mental illness for the past seven years.
In a video shared on Instagram, Chidera recounted that her brother’s struggles began in 2019 after he gained admission to the University of Lagos and became more severe during his first academic session in 2020.
She said the family has sought treatment at numerous psychiatric facilities over the years, including New York Psychiatric Hospital in Abeokuta, the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Concept One, a hospital in Gbagada, another in Benin, and most recently, the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Yaba.
According to her, he spent three months at the military hospital before doctors discharged him because they could not keep him admitted any longer.
“He was in the psychiatric ward for three months and they recently asked me to come pick him up because they said they couldn’t keep him there indefinitely. The max they can keep a patient there is three months,” she said.
Following his discharge, Chidera said they took him to Zion Ministry in search of spiritual healing, but his condition reportedly deteriorated after returning home.
The actress explained that she had moved out of her parents’ house about five years ago to protect her daughter from the effects of her brother’s condition. However, after her parents were served a quit notice by their landlord, they relocated to her home together with her brother.
She said she has remained the person primarily responsible for his care, handling hospital visits and treatment while struggling with the overwhelming responsibility.
“They’ve brought this drama back to me and worse is I have been his primary caregiver since all of this started. I’ve been the one taking him to all these hospitals,” she said.
Chidera admitted the weight of the situation has become unbearable, saying she feels exhausted by the responsibilities she has carried for years.
“I’m the first child. I’m tired. I’m so tired of carrying responsibilities that I had no business carrying,” she said.
She also expressed disappointment with her parents, accusing them of not doing enough to support their son’s care.
“I’m done being the sacrificial lamb. I’m done being the one who has to take care of everybody and nobody cares about me,” she added.
The actress further revealed that strangers have repeatedly contacted her after spotting her brother wandering unclothed on the streets of Lagos.
She said her daughter’s wellbeing remains her biggest concern, but finding separate accommodation for her brother has proven difficult because of the high cost of renting a home in Lagos.
“My daughter sleeps in fear because they are still in my house at the moment. I’ve tried to help them get another apartment but apartments, houses are really crazy expensive,” she said.
Making an emotional appeal at the end of the video, Chidera said she has done everything within her power to help her brother but can no longer cope on her own.
“I’ve done what I can do. I’ve carried him everywhere that I can carry him to… I’m tired. Please, I’m drowning. I need help,” she said.
View this post on Instagram
