Mental Health Awareness and Help-Seeking Behaviour Among University Students in Lagos State, South West Nigeria

Mental health disorders among university students are increasingly recognised as a public health priority, with academic pressure, economic stress, and social isolation among the key precipitating factors in Nigerian higher education settings. This study examines the level of mental health awareness and patterns of help-seeking behaviour among undergraduate students at a public university in Lagos State. A descriptive cross-sectional survey is conducted among 380 students selected through stratified random sampling across five faculties. A structured, self-administered questionnaire adapted from validated instruments measures mental health literacy, awareness of campus mental health services, perceived stigma, and prior help-seeking experiences. Quantitative data are analysed using SPSS, with chi-square tests and binary logistic regression applied. Available evidence suggests that over 30 percent of Nigerian university students experience significant psychological distress annually, yet fewer than 10 percent access formal mental health services due to stigma, cost, and limited availability. The study is grounded in the Mental Health Literacy Model, which identifies knowledge and attitudes as precursors to appropriate help-seeking. Findings will inform the university's health and counselling directorate on structuring accessible, stigma-reduced mental health support. The study contributes to national mental health policy discussions under the revised Nigeria Mental Health Act. Keywords: mental health awareness, help-seeking, university students, Lagos State, South West Nigeria.