Knowledge, Attitude And Perception Of Mental Health Among Evangel University Students

Knowledge, Attitude And Perception Of Mental Health Among Evangel University Students

Abstract

In this study, our focus was on the Knowledge, Attitude And Perception Of Mental Health Among Evangel University Students, Evangel university as case study. The study is was specifically focused on examining the prevalence of mental health issues among students; determining the impact of mental health issues on the students’ academic performance; investigating the impact of academic stress on the students mental health and determining the ways in which students can stabilize their mental health.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 100 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are students of Evangel university. This study shows that there is high prevalence of mental health issues among undergraduate students of Evangel university , Nigeria. This implies that depression, anxiety and stress are neglected public health problems in this institution and can lead to adverse effects on the mental health, quality of life and academic achievement of these students.

Table of Content

• Title Page
• Certification
• Dedication
• Acknowledgement
• Table of Content
• List of Tables
• Abstract

Chapter One:

Introduction

• 1.1 Background of the Study
• 1.2 Statement of the Problem
• 1.3 Objective of the Study
• 1.4 Research Questions
• 1.5 Significance of the Study
• 1.6 Scope of the Study
• 1.7 Limitation of the Study
• 1.8 Definition of Terms
• 1.9 Organisations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

• 2.1 Conceptual Framework
• 2.2 Theoretical Framework
• 2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

• 3.1 Research Design
• 3.2 Population of the Study
• 3.3 Sample Size Determination
• 3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
• 3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
• 3.6 Method of Data Collection
• 3.7 Method of Data Analysis
• 3.8 Validity of the Study
• 3.9 Reliability of the Study
• 3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

• 4.1 Data Presentation
• 4.2 Analysis of Data
• 4.3 Answering Research Questions

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

• 5.1 Summary
• 5.2 Conclusion
• 5.3 Recommendation
• References
• APPENDIX
• QUESTIONNAIRE

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Psychological distress including stress, anxiety, and depression are current global problems (Bilgel&Bayram, 2014). Psychological distress can be viewed as an emotional disturbance that may affect the lives of the individuals on a daily basis. College students experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression compared with the general population (Besser& Zeigler- Hill, 2014; Bewick, Koutsopoulou, Miles, Slaa, &Barkham, (2010)are of the opinion that lifetime prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among adolescents and young adults range from 5% to 70% globally. The American College Health Association (2011) and Yamashita, Saito, and Takao (2012) noted that anxiety is the most common mental health problem reported by college students. Most undergraduate students transitioning to adulthood encounter stressful situations that may be responsible for a high rate of depression and anxiety among them (Amarasuriya, Jorm, & Reavley, 2015; Bilgel & Bayram, 2008).

Globally, mental health problem is recognized as a public health problem in developed and developing countries (Tibebe & Tesfay, 2015). About 450 million people suffer from mental or behavioral disorders worldwide today, mental disorder are widely recognized as a major contributor (14%) to the global burden of disease worldwide (Mariam, et al., 2016) .World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2002, 154 million people suffered from depression, 25million suffered from schizophrenia, 91 million people suffered from alcohol disorders, and 15 million people suffered from drug use disorders. According to Manda, et al., (2017), nearly 25% of individuals in both developed and developing countries develop one or more mental and behavioral disorders at some stage in their life.

Despite the fact that mental illness and mental health care awareness programmers being extended extensively over the past few decades , mentally challenged patients are still being mocked, ostracized, labeled, ill-treated and misunderstood by the greater community, family and sometimes health care personnel (Ukpong & Abasiugbong, 2010). In addition, studies indicate that large populations have negative attitudes and beliefs towards mentally ill patients, usually stemming from the fact that lay people, generally have poor knowledge regarding mental illness (Sadik, et al, 2010). Due to lack of knowledge, insight, misperceptions, false beliefs and myths relating to mental illness, some societies believe that mentally ill patients are often treated as outcasts or mad people (Bener & Ghuloum, 2011).

In developing countries like Nigeria, the general belief is that preternatural or supernatural forces, witches, evil spirits and even God cause mental illness. These beliefs have influenced attitudes of Nigerians towards mentally ill. Historically people with mental illness were burned, hanged, mutilated, abandoned and restrained with chains, all in the bid to save their souls, or bring redemption to their families and curb the inequities causing mental illness within the families (Okpalauwaekwe, et al, 2017). Some studies conducted in Africa have suggested that experience of stigma by people with mental illness maybe common, but there is no information on how widespread negative attitudes to mental illness maybe in the community (Tibebe & Tesfay, 2015). Crabb, et al, (2012) reported that there is poor understanding of mental health and mental illness in Africa, and research by other investigators indicates that mental illness is often not generally recognized.

In Sub Saharan African (SSA) countries few studies have been conducted in recent years on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of community members and healthcare workers towards mentally ill patients (Chikaodiri, 2009). The aforementioned studies indicated that people with higher education tend to have more knowledge and positive attitudes towards mentally ill patients (Ndetei, et al, 2011). Some studies conducted also expose the various myths and misconceptions about mental illness were the participants in the study often expressed fear and attitudes towards people with mental illness and often viewed the mentally ill patients as dirty, worthless, and dangerous. Sometimes people also associate people with mental illness with witchcraft and works of evil machines (Ewhoudjakpor, 2009). In Ethiopia, poverty, war, famine displacement and homelessness are common, mental health is also becoming a major public health problem. However, little is known about perception of the public regarding mental illness (Tibebe & Tesfay., 2015).

The most common psychological problems of adolescence are depression and anxiety. While depression is less common during childhood, it increases during the onset of adolescence. During adolescence, depression is experienced mostly short and depending on the certain conditions. Adolescents suffering from depression are sad and broken down. They feel loneliness, but can continue doing their daily chores. However, in deeper cases of depression, adolescents show the symptoms of low self-esteem, selfblame, hopelessness, suicide thoughts, anger, and peevishness. From the bulk of research, it can be inferred that depression and anxiety may be experienced at the same time. It has been declared that depression and anxiety are accompanied with 12 to 75% of the surveys conducted by Eckberg, Pidgeon, & Magyar (2017). While entrance to a university or other tertiary education institutions is a joyous time, it can be a stressful life event for some students. First-year students are particularly at-risk as they face a number of new stressors during the transitional period of starting a new life in university or college (Wang, 2014). Just as all young adults, undergraduate students need to cope not only with psychological and psychosocial changes that are connected to the development of an autonomous personal life but also with the academic and social demands that they encounter in university studies in their preparation for professional careers. Therefore, the period of undergraduate education is a sensitive period in an individual’s life span, and this period is regarded by many as important for developing systems and intervention methods that may prevent or reduce mental problems (Kugbey, Osei-Boadi, &Atefoe, 2015).

Several institutional and personal factors have been linked with mental health problems of medical students. These include a highly stressful environment competitive- ness, excessive workload, sleep deprivation and peer pres- sure (Pacheco et al., 2017). Furthermore, socio-demographic factors that have been associated with mental health prob- lems among medical students include: being female, younger students and students in the early years of medical school (Coentre et al., 2016).

About one-third of the medical students worldwide suffer from depression or depressive symptoms (Adhikari et al., 2017). The adverse outcome of mental health problems among medical students is increasingly becoming a public health burden. Poor mental health is found to be associated with serious thoughts of dropping out of medical school, substance abuse, burnout and suicidal ideation (Adhikari et al., 2017). Mental health problems affect student’s cap- acity to organize highly demanding study hours, socialize, and perform academically and this could affect patient care, since empathy and professionalism might be impaired (Pacheco et al., 2017). Most of these studies were conducted in industrialized countries where the learning atmosphere is different and more comfortable than what obtains in the developing countries including Nigeria.

A study on mental health disorders in Nigeria showed that mental health disorders are accorded a very low priority in Nigeria, the level of awareness of the Nigerian public about mental health issues is poor, and the misconceptions regarding mental health have continued to flourish. (Suleiman, 2016). This poor attention to mental health may even be worse among adolescents and youths, the category to which most medical students belong. This may be due to paucity of data on mental health problems in our environment.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Evidence that suggests that university students are vulnerable to mental health problems has generated increased public concern in many societies. Previous studies suggest high rates of psychological morbidity, especially depression and anxiety, among university students all over the world (Adewuya et al., 2006) found that among college students seeking counselling services, anxiety and depression were ranked first and third as presenting problems, respectively; academic and work-related concerns were ranked second as the presenting problem. Brackney and Karabenick (1995) noted that high levels of distress, concomitant with limited coping resources, render students less able to meet academic demands. Unfortunately, college counsellors are stretched very thin, thereby providing treatment for anxiety and depression-related complaints. Romano and Hage (2000) suggested the importance of integrative theoretical models that would better allow for the prevention of psychological difficulties.

Increasing interest in positive psychology and the factors that constitute wellness fit well with this type of prevention agenda, but comprehensive models describing the psychological resources that protect college students from anxiety and depression are lacking (Dahlin et al., 2005). Psychological distress may result in withdrawal from study as first-year students were found to be twice as likely to drop out as their counterparts in the second and third years (Curtis and Curtis, 1999). Adlaf et al. (2001) found a prominent inverse relationship between year of study and mental health in university students, those at greatest risk being first-year students. Psychological morbidity in undergraduate students represents a neglected public health problem and holds major implications for campus health services and mental policy-making (Poch et al., 2004; Stewart- Brown et al., 2000). In terms of life quality, understanding the impact of this neglected public health phenomenon on one’s educational attainment and prospective occupational success is very important.

Related to the increasing number of students, who are dismissed from the university because of the low, cumulative grades, as well as some of them who change their academic fields specialty, the idea of this study emerged.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to examine the knowledge, attitude and perception of mental health among Evangel university students. Specifically, the study aims:

1. To examine the prevalence of mental health issues among students
2. To determine the impact of mental health issues on the students’ academic performance
3. To investigate the impact of academic stress on the students mental health
4. To determine the ways in which students can stabilize their mental health

1.4 Research question

The study will answer the following research questions in order to achieve the research objectives

1. Is there prevalence of mental health issues among the students?
2. What is the knowledge of the students towards mental health issues?
3. Does mental health issues affect the students’ academic performance?
4. Does academic stress affects students mental health?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The study specifically focused on the undergraduates students in Evangel university and not any other university because of the prevalence of mental health problems among the students population, which are not recognized. Anecdotal reports from media, families, religious institutions and civil society suggest the prevalence of mental health problems, but there is lack of adequate data on mental health problems, level of knowledge, attitudes and practices among the undergraduate students through empirical research to allow for comprehensive intervention to mitigate the issues.

Furthermore, there is undocumented high level of mental health illiteracy and lack of awareness concerning mental health issues among the students in which they prefer traditional medication as opposed to the hospital when treating mental disorders. This has led to the loss of many lives of the patients, escalation of the symptoms while others are taken to the hospital when it is already too late, being left to loiter in the world without anyone to take care of them or being chained in their homes to prevent harm and attacks.

Another factor that makes these patients suffer most is because most of the members of the community believe that these are conditions caused by demons and in some instances subjects the patients to very hostile situations such as being caged or being caged together with a hyena that is believed to bite the patients and take the demons out.

Finally, this study will aid the policymakers to formulate better responsive policies that will enable adequate budget allocation, proper staffing and procurement of medical equipment, medical supplies, and school community sensitisation . For the academicians, this study highlights on the mental health epidemic among the Evangel university, emphasizing on the data (knowledge, attitudes and practices for caregivers, traditional healers and health service providers) for further studies in this area.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study is limited to present the prevalence of mental health issues among undergraduates students in Evangel university , with a specific focus on students mental health in Evangel university . The study specifically limited with to this University in Ebonyi state.

1.7 Limitation of the Study

This research work is specifically on the prevalence of mental health issues among undergraduates students in Evangel university . In the limitation on research work of this magnitude or nature can be carried out without limitation. Hence, during the course, certain constraints were encountered.

Cost:

The cost of thorough research is not what can be afforded by a student. The prices of materials needed for this work has gone up and transport fee has also gone up.

Time:

The time was one of the limitations in the process of carrying out this research work.

Scarcity of Literature:

The research encountered some problems in collection of literature especially on the bank History and operations. This are hindered the smooth running of this work.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Mental Health:

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

Depression:

A mental health disorder characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily.

Stress:

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension.

1.9 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows.

• Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
• Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.
• Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
• Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
• Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on the knowledge, attitude and perception of mental health among evangel university students, Evangel university as case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was on the knowledge, attitude and perception of mental health among evangel university students, Evangel university as case study. The study is was specifically focused on examining the prevalence of mental health issues among students; determining the impact of mental health issues on the students’ academic performance; investigating the impact of academic stress on the students mental health and determining the ways in which students can stabilize their mental health.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 100 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are students of Evangel university .

5.3 Conclusions

With respect to the analysis and the findings of this study, the following conclusions emerged;

This study shows that there is high prevalence of mental health issues among undergraduate students of Evangel university , Nigeria. This implies that depression, anxiety and stress are neglected public health problems in this institution and can lead to adverse effects on the mental health, quality of life and academic achievement of these students. This study also shows association of depression with academic performance and ethnicity. Finally, in this study, stress was also found to be associated with family economic situation and parent marital status.

5.4 Recommendation

Te followings are therefore recommended:

1. There is need for concerted efforts by health care professionals and the university administrative staff to develop appropriate support services catering to this group of students.
2. There is also need for greater attention to the psychological wellbeing of undergraduate students in order to improve their quality of life.
3. Appropriate screening and intervention programs should be allowed especially during orientation so as to prevent mental health problems among students admitted into the universities.
4. Early diagnosis, treatment and counselling as the case may be should be offered to vulnerable students..

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