YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

The study assessed the impact of the community based mental health programme on youths development in Ekosodin Community, Benin City. The population of the study comprised four hundred (400) respondents who are youths between the ages of 18 to 35 years who have lived in Ekosodin community in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research method/design
used for the study was survey research. The data collected from the respondents were used for data analysis through simple descriptive statistics namely, simple percentage, frequency count and mean rating. The findings of the research concluded that there are many factors that contribute to the incidence of mental health challenges among youths of Ekosodin community such as peer pressure, substance abuse, unemployment, financial problems, family challenges, lack of parental guidance etc. The community based mental health programme has a significant impact on youth development in Ekosodin community, Benin
City. There are many limitations to the community based mental health programme in Ekosodin Community such as lack of financing to sustain mental health programming, stigma and discrimination and lack of community awareness which impairs the effectiveness of the community based mental health programme. Social workers play a significant role in the successful implementation and effectiveness of mental health programming by helping to ascertain who needs special programmes, joining forces with other professionals in the implementation of mental health programming, bridging the gap between the community and mental health service providers and increasing effectiveness and sustainability of community based mental health programmes. Based on these findings, it was suggested that the government and other stakeholders increase funding and material resources for the community based mental health programme in Ekosodin. Increased financial resources will
support what is currently being done, allow for trained professionals to be hired, and create modern counselling and therapy spaces for the youths.

The study assessed the impact of the community based mental health programme onyouthsdevelopment in Ekosodin Community, Benin City. The population of the study comprisedfour hundred (400) respondents who are youths between the ages of 18 to 35 years whohavelived in Ekosodin community in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research method/designused for the study was survey research. The data collected from the respondents wereusedfor data analysis through simple descriptive statistics namely, simple percentage, frequencycount and mean rating. The findings of the research concluded that there are manyfactorsthat contribute to the incidence of mental health challenges among youths of Ekosodincommunity such as peer pressure, substance abuse, unemployment, financial problems, family challenges, lack of parental guidance etc. The community based mental healthprogramme has a significant impact on youth development in Ekosodin community, BeninCity. There are many limitations to the community based mental health programmeinEkosodin Community such as lack of financing to sustain mental health programming, stigmaand discrimination and lack of community awareness which impairs the effectiveness of thecommunity based mental health programme. Social workers play a significant role inthesuccessful implementation and effectiveness of mental health programming by helpingtoascertain who needs special programmes, joining forces with other professionals intheimplementation of mental health programming, bridging the gap between the communityandmental health service providers and increasing effectiveness and sustainability of communitybased mental health programmes. Based on these findings, it was suggested that thegovernment and other stakeholders increase funding and material resources for thecommunity based mental health programme in Ekosodin. Increased financial resources will support what is currently being done, allow for trained professionals to be hired, andcreatemodern counselling and therapy spaces for the youths.

Globally, mental health disorders are a major public health issue, affecting people across all age groups. Approximately 970 million people were living with a mental disorder in 2019, with anxiety and depression being the most common conditions (World Health Organization 2022). The objective of the study was to examine the impact of community-based mental health programmes on youth development in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Hence the study ascertained the causes of mental health challenges among youth in the study area, explored the community-based mental health programs, determined how community-based mental health programs influence youth development, identified ways to improve the mental health and explored the role of social workers in community-based mental health programs in the Oredo Local Government Area. The study adopted the mixed-method type of research, also known as triangulation. This design allows to triangulate data by using multiple sources of information to confirm or validate each other’s. The study population included residents of Oredo LGA 18 years and above without prejudice to ethnic nationality, social status, or educational qualifications. LGA counsellors, health workers, and community heads in the LGA also form part of the Oredo LGA. The sample size for this was determined using an appropriate mathematical model for sample size and the multi-stage, otherwise known as area sampling, procedure in selecting respondents for the study. The structured questionnaire and In-Depth Interview (IDI) were used in data collection. The analysis and discussion were based on the data from the field using descriptive statistics and content analysis respectively. The findings from the study revealed that there were different causes of mental health challenges in the study area. The causes could be linked to spiritual, physical, or social and psychological triggers. These triggers included spiritual factors, such as the belief in the possession of evil spirits, and psychological factors, like frequent exposure to stressful and traumatic events. The findings further identified social triggers such as family history, poverty, and drug abuse as leading causes of mental health challenges in the study area. The findings revealed that existing mental health programs, like the school-based mental health program, were very effective. It was, however, discovered that the existing mental health xi program in the study area was not participatory. That is, the community members were not drafted as partners in the process towards addressing the mental health crisis. The services was also not easily accessible thereby limiting their benefits to those who needed them most. The study therefore recommends appropriate implementation of community-based mental health programmes that are participatory. That is, the type that engage the host community in the design, formulation, and implementation of mental health programs in the study area. The programme should be designed in such a way that it engage local leaders, community members, and youth themselves.