By Peace Louis
A Mental Health Club has been launched at Ejigbo Baptist High School, Ejigbo, Osun State, to promote mental-health awareness and emotional wellbeing among students.
The initiative, launched on Friday, was supported by the 1996 Set of the school’s Old Students Association as part of efforts to contribute to the development and wellbeing of students of their alma mater.
Speaking at the launch, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Lagos, Dr Temilade Adegbite, said schools had an important role to play in promoting the mental health of children and adolescents.
Adegbite explained that young people spend a significant part of their lives in school, making schools an important environment for mental-health education, early identification of emotional and behavioural difficulties and appropriate intervention.
She said the club would also help improve students’ understanding of mental health, reduce stigma and encourage young people experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties to seek appropriate support.
According to her, activities of the club will include mental-health education and awareness, peer-support sessions, discussions on emotional wellbeing, stress management, resilience-building and anti-stigma campaigns.
She said the initiative would provide students with a supportive platform to develop healthy coping skills and contribute to creating a mentally healthy school environment.
The initiative was supported by members of the 1996 Set committee, including Adegbite, Dr Oyebode Paul, Dr Lukman Oyedokun, Mr Mathew Ojekale, Mrs Kemi Omigbodun, Mrs Omolola Adewale, Mr Akintayo Ademola, Mr Bayo Oyekunle, Mr Taiwo Opawole and Mr Lawal Kazeem.
The coordinator of the 1996 Set, Mr Sesan Oyelakin, was also instrumental to the initiative.
The launch brought together members of the old students’ association and school community in a collaborative effort aimed at strengthening mental-health support for students.
The organisers said the initiative was intended to foster an environment where students could discuss their emotional wellbeing without fear of stigma and seek help when necessary.