MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTIONS IN USELU COMMUNITY BENIN-CITY, EDO STATE

This study investigated the mental health challenges affecting residents in Uselu Community, Egor Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, fifteen (15) research questions subdivided into five (5) thematic parts were raised and answered. The population of the study consisted of residents living within key areas of Uselu Community. Available data from the National Population Census (NPC, 2025) indicates that Uselu Community forms part of the estimated 404,218 residents in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample size for this study consisted of sixty (60) respondents. The data collected was analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage. The study revealed that there is a significant presence of mental health challenges in Uselu Community, particularly stress, depression, anxiety, substance-related issues, and emotional strain. It was concluded that these challenges are driven by socio-economic difficulties, stigma, limited awareness of mental health, cultural beliefs, and poor access to professional care. The findings further showed that while some residents possess basic knowledge of mental health, many still avoid seeking help due to fear of discrimination. The study also revealed that social workers contribute through counselling, advocacy, community sensitization, referral services, and direct support to vulnerable individuals, although their efforts are often hindered by inadequate resources. The study recommended among others that the government, health agencies, and community leaders should intensify mental health awareness campaigns and strengthen access to community-based mental health services. Social workers should be provided with adequate tools to implement effective intervention strategies. Local authorities must also create mechanisms to monitor mental health risks and encourage early reporting and treatment of affected persons