Key Points
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Universities urged to prioritize mental health for students.
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Rising depression and anxiety linked to financial pressures.
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Counseling services seen as essential for campus wellness.
There is growing worry over increased rates of stress, depression, and anxiety on campuses, therefore Nigerian colleges have been told to take student mental health as seriously as academics.
At an academic symposium in Abuja, Professor Emmanuel Adedoyin, a senior lecturer in psychology, urged higher education institutions to make mental health programs a top priority.
According to a report by the Punch news, he warned that ignoring the issue might lead to more students dropping out, more substance misuse, and lower learning outcomes.
More and more students are asking for help with their mental health
Adedoyin said that the stress of doing well in school, money problems, and unstable social situations have all pushed a lot of youngsters into vulnerable positions. Mental health is no longer something that people keep to themselves.
He claimed that it is clear in classrooms, dorms, and even test halls.
He urged colleges to improve their counseling services, start programs to raise awareness, and train staff to see indicators of mental anguish.
Mental health problems that students have outside of school
Students from both public and private schools said in interviews that their daily problems go beyond schoolwork.
Many others said that increased tuition rates, little career opportunities, and feeling unsafe on campus made them feel depressed and anxious.
A student at the University of Lagos said that money problems and fear of being unemployed made it hard to focus. “You see classmates break down; some turn to drugs, and others just pull away,” she said.
Universities told to do something about mental health issues
Adedoyin says that institutions should include wellness programs in their academic calendars and make counseling services necessary, not optional. He said that mental health problems that aren’t treated can impact performance in the classroom and can turn into long-term problems if they aren’t dealt with.
Education experts say that the problem needs both government policy changes and school management commitment to be solved. One policy expert in Abuja remarked, “Universities can’t work alone; they need to work with public health agencies and NGOs.”
The argument regarding student well-being is part of a bigger national discussion about the youth issue in the country.
Young Nigerians are dealing with a lot of uncertainty right now since unemployment is reaching record highs and inflation is making it hard for families to make ends meet.
Adedoyin says that putting kids’ mental health first is not only about keeping young people safe, but also about making sure that the country’s future workers are well. He remarked, “We can’t have a strong economy when the people who should be in charge are falling apart.”
