In this report, WONDERFUL ADEGOKE (UDUS) explores the sensitive issue of mental health among students and the need to address the risk of suicide and self-harming behaviours among them. However, a student-led initiative in UDUS is poised to not only provide a platform where students can learn about mental health, but commit to building a supportive community.
Abdummuqeet Mutiullah swung back and forth above a vacuum of indecision. Mutiullah, a 400-Level student at the College of Allied Health Sciences at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), was always burdened by the weight of academic demands.
According to him, knowing little about what could be done didn’t give him some measure of peace. His problems stem from stigmatisation, ignorance of mental health, and lack of access to mental health resources.
“I know a lot of students go through different challenges that affect their mental health. However, what I was wrong about was thinking it wasn’t worth speaking up,” Mutiullah explained.
The likes of Mutiullah and other students reveal why an issue that is too often ignored in Nigeria continues to affect academic performance, thus making concentration very difficult.
However, Mutiullah can’t be blamed for his fate. Stress, self-denial of mental health issues, and lack of professionals hinder many students’ desire to speak up. This situation outlines one of the numerous factors contributing to social exclusion and educational difficulties.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being where every individual realises their potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and can contribute to their community.
It is estimated that mental health conditions account for 16 per cent of the global burden of disease and injury in people, with suicide being the fourth leading cause of death.
Globally, this puts Nigeria on the radar with a 25 percent increase in the prevalence of depression and anxiety worldwide, with young people being at risk of suicide and self-harming behaviours. However, Mutiullah’s joy knew no bounds, his frail hope was renewed after an initiative began to engage students on UDUS campus.
“It was a form of growth for me,” 21-year-old Mutiullah told CAMPUS LIFE, beaming with joy.
An initiative’s response
In Nigeria, a significant number of students including those in government misunderstand the importance of mental health. While this is often linked to anxiety, substance abuse, spiritual affliction, and trauma, an initiative has emerged to change the narrative.
In a bid to create mental health awareness, reduce stigmatisation and promote healthy coping strategies, Campus Mind Trybe, a student-led initiative in UDUS focuses on providing a platform where students can learn, share and commit to building a supportive community. Driven by enthusiasm and a strong belief in empathy, compassion, and the need for open dialogue, AbdulMuiz Sulayman, a student of Human Medicine who doubles as the founder of Campus Mind Trybe, revealed that success in academics should not come at the expense of one’s mental well-being.
Since its inception on June 16, 2025, Campus Mind Trybe has engaged students through awareness rally, counselling services and a collective sense of responsibility.
“Many students are willing to speak out, listen and support others if given the right awareness and encouragement,” Sulayman said.
He said the initiative is rendering services for free, emphasising how media platforms and student groups are used to share positive recovery stories, and counter stereotypes.
During one of the awareness rally, Najeeb Lukman, a 300-Level Pharmacy student praised the visionary drive behind the initiative and how it impacted him positively.
“Talking to trusted colleagues and mentors can reduce the burden. I also learned to balance study with rest, physical activity, and relaxation techniques which helps maintain both mental and academic stability,” Lukman said.
Despite how myths surrounding mental health are resented, 23-year-old Lukman learnt a coping strategy.
“Working alongside people from different backgrounds with a shared purpose reminded me that no one is ever truly alone.
“I gained a deeper sense of responsibility to not only care for my mental health, but to check on friends, colleagues, and loved ones,” he said.
Lukman’s bailout is gaining prominence on UDUS campus. For Shuaibu Ganiya, a 200-Level Dentistry student, before Campus Mind Trybe’s intervention, waiting in silence came with its own kind of terror.
Ganiya speaks well of her newfound knowledge.
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“Listening to their discussion and engaging with fellow participants helped me to understand that while academic excellence is highly valued, the pressure to meet expectations can become overwhelming for many students.
“Academic stress, when left unattended to, may lead to feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts,” she said.
While this newfound knowledge had infused her with energy, her heart goes out to her colleagues whose efforts to stay abreast of mental health issues appears to be a mirage.
“Mental health awareness in UDUS is little to none. It was just this year I started hearing about it in UDUS. The main reason is because there are no movements that drive awareness about it on campus. What students are told is to always read. No one is actually talking about its impact on their mental health,” she said.
Management guilty, says health expert
A medical doctor and public health expert, Dr Abbas Adeola Toriola, said the way out largely lies in the hands of school authorities.
The public health expert said although the school is consistent in grooming students within the four walls of lecture halls, much more could be done to invest in their mental well-being.
“During orientation programmes, emphasis should be laid on the importance of mental health and how it can be sustained during their academic pursuits. This should be followed up with periodic mental health programmes, workshops, and even classroom discussions.
“UDUS management should invest or engage the services of licensed professionals such as clinical psychologists, counsellors, and even psychiatrists,” said Dr Toriola.
Most importantly, he implored the school to respond swiftly whenever students speak up about their problems or those of their colleagues.