Awareness and Attitudes of Secondary School Students Towards Mental Health Services in Kogi State

Awareness and positive attitudes toward mental health services are prerequisites for help-seeking behaviour among adolescents, particularly in Nigerian communities where mental health stigma remains prevalent. This study examined the awareness and attitudes of secondary school students toward mental health services in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with 380 students from fourteen secondary schools across Lokoja, Okene, and Kabba educational districts participating. The Mental Health Awareness Inventory and the Attitudes Toward Mental Health Services Scale were administered. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance. Findings indicated that overall mental health awareness was moderate, with most students recognising depression and anxiety as mental health conditions but showing limited awareness of less-publicised disorders. Attitudes toward mental health services were mixed, with stigma, perceived social consequences of help-seeking, and religious belief systems identified as barriers. Male students demonstrated significantly more negative attitudes toward mental health help-seeking than females. Urban school students showed higher awareness levels than rural counterparts. The study concluded that mental health literacy programmes integrated into the school guidance curriculum are urgently needed in Kogi State. Counsellors were recommended to adopt destigmatisation strategies, including student-led mental health awareness campaigns and school-based well-being discussions. Keywords: mental health awareness, attitudes, secondary school, Kogi State, help-seeking.