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Effect of University Mental Health Clubs on Mental Health Awareness among Undergraduate Students in Nigeria

Abstract

Mental health awareness is an important component of promoting psychological wellbeing, early recognition of mental health difficulties, and appropriate help-seeking among undergraduate students in Nigeria. University students may experience academic pressures, financial difficulties, relationship challenges, social adjustment problems, family concerns, and other stressors that may affect their psychological wellbeing. Despite these challenges, limited knowledge about mental health conditions, misconceptions, stigma, and inadequate awareness of available support services may prevent students from recognizing mental health problems and seeking appropriate assistance. University mental health clubs provide a student-centred platform for promoting mental health awareness through peer education, awareness campaigns, group discussions, seminars, outreach activities, and information sharing. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of university mental health clubs on mental health awareness among undergraduate students in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on Social Cognitive Theory, the Health Belief Model, and Social Support Theory. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the roles of observational learning, peer modelling, self-efficacy, behavioural skills, and supportive environments in developing mental health awareness and healthy help-seeking attitudes. The Health Belief Model explains how students' perceptions of susceptibility to mental health problems, perceived severity, perceived benefits of mental health information, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence their awareness and understanding of mental health. Social Support Theory emphasizes the importance of peer, emotional, informational, and social support in promoting psychological wellbeing and improving access to mental health information and services. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how university mental health clubs may influence mental health awareness among undergraduate students in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise undergraduate students enrolled in selected public and private universities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, universities, faculties, departments, and eligible students. University mental health clubs will be measured using indicators such as availability of mental health clubs, membership, frequency of club activities, duration of participation, peer-led education, mental health seminars, awareness campaigns, group discussions, outreach activities, distribution of educational materials, peer-support activities, collaboration with counselling centres, and referral information. Mental health awareness will be assessed using indicators such as knowledge of common mental health conditions, recognition of symptoms and warning signs, understanding of mental health risk factors, awareness of mental health promotion strategies, knowledge of available counselling and healthcare services, understanding of suicide warning signs, awareness of stigma and misconceptions, recognition of psychological distress, knowledge of appropriate help-seeking options, and awareness of mental health referral pathways. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, case-based scenarios, validated mental health awareness instruments, and relevant mental health club activity records where available. Where a quasi-experimental design is used, mental health awareness will be assessed before and after participation in the mental health club programme. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize students' demographic and academic characteristics, club participation, and levels of mental health awareness. Inferential statistical techniques, including paired or independent sample tests, chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of university mental health clubs on mental health awareness. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that university mental health clubs have a significant positive effect on mental health awareness among undergraduate students in Nigeria. Students who participate in structured mental health club activities are expected to demonstrate improved knowledge of common mental health conditions, recognition of warning signs, understanding of mental health risk factors, awareness of available support services, and knowledge of appropriate help-seeking options compared with their baseline awareness or students without similar exposure. Peer-led discussions, seminars, awareness campaigns, educational outreach, and collaboration with university counselling and health services may provide accessible opportunities for students to obtain reliable mental health information and challenge misconceptions and stigma. Active participation in mental health clubs may also strengthen students' confidence in discussing mental health concerns and supporting peers appropriately. However, stigma, limited funding, irregular club activities, inadequate professional supervision, low student participation, misinformation, and limited access to qualified mental health professionals may restrict the effectiveness and sustainability of university mental health clubs. The study therefore expects well-organized, student-centred, professionally supported, and sustained mental health clubs to contribute significantly to improved mental health awareness among undergraduate students in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on university mental health clubs, mental health awareness, undergraduate students, peer education, student mental health, mental health promotion, stigma reduction, health education, counselling services, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the National Universities Commission, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, university administrators, student affairs departments, counselling centres, university health services, psychologists, counsellors, student organizations, public health practitioners, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for strengthening student mental health promotion. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for establishing and strengthening university mental health clubs, training student peer educators, providing professional supervision, integrating clubs with university counselling services, improving access to reliable mental health information, increasing student participation, and developing sustainable student-led mental health awareness programmes across universities in Nigeria.

Keywords: University mental health clubs, mental health awareness, undergraduate students, peer education, student mental health, mental health promotion, mental health literacy, stigma reduction, counselling services, health education, Nigeria, public health.