Perception and Acceptability of Mental Health Services Among University Students in Kano State, North West Nigeria

Perceptions of mental illness and the acceptability of formal mental health services among university students in North West Nigeria are shaped by deeply held cultural, religious, and social norms that frequently intersect with high levels of psychological distress. This study examines perceptions and acceptability of mental health services among undergraduate students at a federal university in Kano State. A descriptive cross-sectional survey is conducted among 360 students from five faculties selected through stratified random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire assesses beliefs about the causes of mental illness, attitudes toward people with mental disorders, perceived quality of campus counselling services, willingness to seek professional help, and preferred help sources in the context of emotional distress. SPSS is used for quantitative analysis, with chi-square tests applied. Available evidence from the 2022 Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria mental health literacy study indicates that supernatural illness attribution and preference for Islamic or traditional healing are more common in North West university populations than in southern Nigerian equivalents, creating specific barriers to formal service uptake. The Mental Health Literacy framework of Jorm and colleagues guides the analytical approach. Findings will support Kano State university management in designing culturally congruent, stigma-reduction initiatives and improving the accessibility and visibility of campus mental health support. Keywords: mental health perception, acceptability, university students, mental health services, Kano State.