DOI: 10.11648/j.wjph.20261102.22 ISSN: 2637-6059

Knowledge, Attitude, and Perceived Need for Mental Health Support System Among Medical Students: A Case Study of the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Ifeoma Ofurum, Favour Uzie, Marycindy Uzoka, Chiamaka Vincent-Obialor
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Background : Medical students in Nigerian Universities often must handle excessive academic loads, which puts a strain on them emotionally. The available support systems on most campuses fail to meet the specific needs of this population and therefore remain underutilized by them. While previous studies conducted among Nigerian medical students focused on prevalence of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress, there remains a paucity of data regarding the perceived need for a mental health support system specific to the needs of medical students. Objective: The study evaluated the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of needs regarding a mental health support system for medical students, and identified factors linked to the effective use of such services if developed. Methods : A descriptive cross-sectional survey was employed. A total of 320 students were recruited into the study through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a validated, semi-structured interviewer-administered instrument via the Open Data Kit (ODK) platform. The instrument had high internal reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.85). Data obtained were analyzed using IBM Statistical Product for the Service Solution (SPSS) version 29. Results: The majority of the participants were mostly male 168(52.5%), were aged between 21-25 years (mean age as 21.0±3.0 years), were primarily in their clinical years, and lived off campus 225(70.3%). The survey results showed that only 105(32.8%) students demonstrated strong knowledge about mental health issues. However, the majority of the total number of students 267(83.4%) expressed willingness to seek help for mental health issues if the need arose. Awareness of mental health signs ( p=0.004 ) and confidence in the quality of service ( p=0.006 ) were significant factors that influenced students’ use of future services. Stigma was noticed to be a concern among the students as only 142(44.4%) agreed or strongly agreed that no associated stigma with seeking mental health services. Conclusion: Medical students want a support system that will focus on their specific needs, which will lead to better student well-being and academic performance. The findings from the study also suggest a need for interventions such as delivery of structured mental health education for these students with emphasizes on de-stigmatizing mental health issues and its services.

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