Psychiatrist Calls for Mental Health Education in Schools Amid Rising Adolescent Challenges

Identifying various signs such as irregular sleep patterns, changes in eating habits, and emotional extremes like excessive fear or sadness, Dr. Ibigbami underscored the need for proactive measures to support students.

Jun 20, 2024 - 17:16

Psychiatrist Calls for Mental Health Education in Schools Amid Rising Adolescent Challenges

Dr. Olanrewaju Ibigbami, a clinical psychiatrist and lecturer, has urged for the integration of mental health literacy into primary and secondary school curricula to address adolescents' mental challenges.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ dissemination meeting in Osogbo organized by ‘The Mehlit Project’, Dr. Ibigbami emphasized the importance of early detection of mental health issues among students. He highlighted that academic underperformance could often signal underlying mental health challenges.

Identifying various signs such as irregular sleep patterns, changes in eating habits, and emotional extremes like excessive fear or sadness, Dr. Ibigbami underscored the need for proactive measures to support students.

The ‘Mehlit Project’, supported by the Counselling Association of Nigeria and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, has successfully trained over 100 school counsellors in mental health literacy in Osun State. Dr. Ibigbami noted the positive impact of this training on counsellors' effectiveness in identifying and managing mental health issues among students.

Dr. Olayinka Oderinde, a mental health practitioner and Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Special Needs, chaired the program. She outlined the project's goal to equip school counsellors with the skills to identify and support students with mental health challenges promptly.

The initiative aims to ensure every school in Osun State has trained counsellors, enhancing mental health support for adolescents.