After really thinking about it and gathering data with the use of questionnaires, I can now comfortably say that – “The mode of teaching PSYCHOLOGY is one of the many reasons mental health is just getting to be a recognised thing in Nigeria.”
Here’s a little story that aroused my interest in this topic. Earlier during the COVID-19 lockdown, with the surge in the demand for mental health services, I provided a link to get help in my class’ WhatsApp group chat.
A seemingly knowledgeable person basically said “No one is mad here” (paraphrased). I hit the individual up privately to understand if it was a joke and from the response, it wasn’t.
For a few years, I have brainstormed on why my mates in the University had little or no knowledge of mental health. I had even limited this gap in knowledge to my school. I was wrong.
On conducting a two-week survey with over 70 responses from graduates and undergraduates of tertiary institutions in all four regions of the country, I know it’s not specific to my school. It is a Nigerian Educational System issue and it has to be fixed.
Of the 70 plus responses, 61% of the students compulsorily offered Psychology in either 100 or 200 Level. Whilst 33.8% of students did not offer it compulsorily.
This explains why 40% of the students have no background in Psychology. It is also the reason about 70% of the students haven’t grasped the concept of mental health which is the basis of Mental Health education in the Nigerian education system.
With 54% of the students feeling that it should be compulsory.
On compulsoriness, here are two responses one, “for” and the other, “against”:
For- “Mental Health education is a very important topic that the society is taking lightly. We’ve had a few ABU students commit suicide in the past. It was very devastating to know that your friend might be thinking of ending his life without you knowing. Without you taking note of the signs he is giving. I strongly hope it’ll be made a compulsory course for all.”
Against – “No. Because even at your own human thinking, a human being can be a psychologist without being taught the course.”
From the general response, I deduced that a good number of students have at some point had terrible experiences learning Psychology as a course.
Personally, I understood why I had to learn Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in my first semester. In the second semester however, I longed for us to get past ID, Ego and Super Ego or, even Underworld men.
With 90% of my class cramming to pass and 70% of a 300-person class failing, in the history of grade-induced traumas, PSY 102 bagged the awards – terrible impression.
It was/is obvious that there was a problem with the approach and how it was taught – a means to a degree.
Based on the survey, the opinion on mental health of 37.7% of those that partook and learnt Psychology compulsorily was not informed by learning it. It was through other mediums like TV, books, life experiences et al.
Like most other courses, it is taught rather passively and as a formality- ‘Let’s get done with this scheme’ attitude. There lies our problem. A student had this to say:
“It was rather theoretical than practical. Everything taught was from the books.”
Psychology should be taught to equip students with the prerequisite knowledge (as the sketchers of the curriculum intended).
Apparently, most lack this, what with the ignorance and insensitivity in the society. This is deeply saddening to say the least.
Not only should it be compulsory, it should be taught with grace and with the purpose of actually impacting knowledge, not teaching to pass alone. A student had this to say:
“The lecturer didn’t even know anything about what he was teaching.”
Thankfully, a great number acknowledge the importance of mental health in the society. However, only a few believe it is a thing in Nigeria. Here’s a thought:
“Only a few Nigerians are open to the concept of mental health because some do not grasp that a person can be mentally ill without being mad.”
There’s only so much the social media and NGOs can do.
It is my belief that Psychology is the leg on which Mental Health stands in our educational system. Until at least 90% believe that mental health is a thing in Nigeria, there’ll always be a lacuna.
A great Nigerian student said: “I think it’s underrated. More attention should be paid to it.”
I agree.
Karina O.
Very educating and enlightening
Absolutely on point. I think Psychology should be giving more attention.
I agree with you.
I launched a petition asking that mental health be taught in secondary schools so they have an idea .
Here’s the link : https://www.change.org/p/federal-government-of-nigeria-basic-mental-health-education-in-schools
Add your voice
I work with an NGO with purpose of infusing this into our primary and secondary school curriculum. We even reached advanced stages of creating the curriculum and engaging the NERDC. You wouldn’t believe how hard they are making it be.
I believe secondary schools will be an even better place to start.
The petition is a beautiful initiative.
This is a fact. Most of the students from my department (Psychology) were given the course; they didn’t pick it.
Consequently, most paid no mind to what was being thought. Also, the mode of teaching was largely theoretical and it never sat well with me.
All through my undergraduate years I knew there was a vacuum not just with the student’s interest but, also from the administration.
Most people don’t take mental health serious… Till they have to.