Olumawu Promotes Mental Health Awareness

Olumawu School has organised a one-day workshop on time management and stress reduction for secondary students in the FCT. The workshop aims to promote mindfulness and mental health awareness among students and help them achieve better academic and life success.

The average student’s life involves learning and studying for tests or examinations on thirteen to ten or nine subjects. The student has to make space for extracurricular activities, social life, and connections, in addition to household chores and personal time for rest, sleep, and reflection.

In the struggle to meet the above demands daily, the student is overwhelmed, resulting in stress and anxiety. Thus, the need to teach students how to manage their time to factor in their academic life, family responsibilities and social activities.

Students from the nine participating schools – Aduvie Intl School, Faith Kiddies School, Lead British Intl School, African Community School, Divine Mercy School, Government Day Secondary School Wuse 2, Startrite School, Raberto School, and Olumawu School – were taught the importance and technics of time management, how to manage stress and anxiety, the importance of a healthy and balanced diet to academic success, how positive affirmations can help reduce stress and anxiety amongst students. Each of the students were also gifted with a ‘Time Management and Stress Reduction’ manual, a 39-page publication by the workshop convener and Head of Olumawu’s Arts and Humanities Department, Mr Chinedu Okoro, of which 400 copies will be distributed without charge to 2000 students across the country.

“The topics discussed today are very important for students’ sound mental health because they often find themselves dealing with expectations from parents, family issues and school. These affect their mental health. This means that their productivity level drops, keeping relationships become an issue, and the struggle can also impact them physically,” said workshop lead facilitator, Mental Health Professional and founder of Abuja schools’ first mental health club, Dr Sa’adatu Adamu.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1 in 4 people struggle with mental health. Adamu noted that this equates to one quarter of Nigerians (including students) suffering mental health issues. Such awareness initiatives, she said, will limit the number of students struggling with anxiety, depression and drug use.

“We can’t talk about mental health without coming to schools. We must remember that these students are at an age when their hormones are changing, and higher expectations are thrust on them. It is important to talk about mental health so they are aware and know what to do.”

The Special Guest of Honour at the event, legal Practitioner Prada Uzodimma, who spoke to the students on the importance of youth mental advocacy, expressed her appreciation of the fact that students are being educated on the importance of mental health.

The founder of the Prada Uzodimma Foundation and disability advocate said, “Oftentimes we find students who are academically trained and launched into the world without the mental health support system that they need to thrive. I am glad to be able to lend my voice to the cause and help students get to know and address these issues on time.”

On the impact of the workshop, the students who openly expressed their fears and struggles with the facilitators, couldn’t hold in their appreciation.
SS2 student, Daniel Onyema of Startrite School said the topic on stress and time management was helpful.

“School is a very hard place to manage. I struggle with time management, and being a senior student, my responsibilities are much. With today’s workshop, I have learnt how to do so, and it makes everything easier for me,” he said.

As one who had branded herself a ‘messy person’, Suleiman Aisha Barakala of Government Girls Secondary, Wuse 2, said the workshop was helpful in helping her identify the need for time management.

“I really needed this. As an SS2 student, preparing to take WAEC next year, I know if I apply the tools given to us starting today, there is no way I wouldn’t pass the exam, and be less stressed. They didn’t just pass off rebranded knowledge rather meaningful things that are life-changing,” Suleiman Aisha Barakala of Government Girls Secondary School.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP about the inspiration behind the workshop, Rotimi Jiboku, principal of Olumawu School, said it teaches students that “irrespective of the number of subjects they have, they can be systematic about their study plans, ensure an effective nutritious diet, such that whatever your studies, you can easily assimilate them.”

He said the workshop was made possible by the annual British Council Action Research Grant £2500), which empowers the council’s approved schools to host workshops and seminars that help students in their studies.

Initiated by Mr Okoro, whose proposal on the practice of Mindfulness amongst students was among the grant’s best proposal for the year 2024/2025, the grant enabled other schools in the FCT to benefit from the project, via participation in the workshop and the distribution of the aforementioned not-for-sale manual to 2,000 Nigerian students.