PERCEPTIONS AND UPTAKE OF SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES AND THE ASSOCIATION WITH STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN IBADAN, OYO STATE

Abstract

Background Currently, the mental health system for in-school adolescents in Nigeria has not shown much promise for addressing the mental health challenges of secondary school students. Therefore, research must continue in the area of school-based mental health services and the importance of supporting the social and emotional health of children and adolescents in order to promote the learning of all students. This study examined perceptions and uptake of school counselling services and the association with the mental health of students in Ibadan, Oyo State Methods The study adopted a descriptive survey design of cross-sectional type using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The survey was conducted in public and private secondary schools within selected local governments in Ibadan, Oyo State of Nigeria. The choice of selected local governments was based on randomized sampling outcomes from the sampling frame of LGAs in Ibadan, Oyo State. The study population comprised adolescents across JSS1 – SS3 classes in the selected secondary schools within Ibadan, Oyo State. A multistage sampling technique was adopted for the study. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to obtain relevant data from the study participants. Four research questions were formulated and analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results The uptake rate of school counselling services among students shows that the majority (87.2%) of the students were aware of the guidance counsellor in their school while 61. 5% of them claimed that they had (at some point) visited the guidance counsellor in the office. Further results show that 43.1% of the students had a negative perception of school counselling services, while 56.9% reported positive perceptions of school counselling services. Prevalence and types of Mental Health problems was 20.7%. Sociodemographic correlates of counselling perception show that class (χ2= 9.121; p = 003) and mother’s education (χ2= 12.266; .001<.05) were positively correlated with students’ perception of counselling. Further results show a significant association between overall students’ mental health (total difficulty score) and counselling uptake (χ2=5.784; df=2;.03<.05). Results from the focus group discussion showed students’ view their counsellor as an adviser, a staff who helps students and a school administrator. Students’ reasons for uptake and non-uptake of counselling services were also examined and results showed that the majority of the students went to see the counsellor for academic-related issues while students did not visit the counsellor because they believed counsellors are not capable of providing solutions to their problems. Finally, in terms of students’ perceptions of how helpful these counselling services have been, it was observed that the majority of the students with counselling experience adjudged it to be helpful. Conclusion In line with the outcomes of this study, there is a need for secondary school management to adopt a more collaborative counselling program in which the management, teachers, school prefects and school counsellors would work hand-in-hand in improving counselling uptake.