Islamic Perspectives on Mental Health and Help-Seeking Behaviour Among Muslim Students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

This study explores Islamic perspectives on mental health and their influence on help-seeking behaviour among Muslim students at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. The stigmatisation of mental illness in many Nigerian communities, including those shaped by Islamic cultural norms, often prevents students from accessing available psychological support services. The study adopts a descriptive survey design, using structured questionnaires administered to 280 Muslim students across six faculties. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Findings indicate that many students attribute mental health challenges to spiritual deficits or divine tests, which influences a preference for religious coping strategies such as prayer and Quranic recitation over formal counselling. While these practices provide genuine comfort, they are sometimes used as substitutes rather than complements to professional mental health care. The study recommends that ABU's counselling services integrate Islamic-sensitive approaches, that Muslim scholars at the university are trained as mental health allies, and that public health campaigns frame mental health care as compatible with Islamic values. This research provides evidence for student welfare planners, campus health services, and Islamic pastoral care workers in Nigerian universities. Keywords: Islamic perspectives, mental health, help-seeking behaviour, Muslim students, Ahmadu Bello University.