SEF Raises Alarm Over Mental Health Risks Among Secondary School Children
By Prosper Okoye
Sam Empowerment Foundation (SEF) has raised concerns over the growing mental health challenges faced by adolescents, especially those in secondary schools. The foundation made this call on Friday during a one-day sensitisation programme held at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja, to mark Children’s Day and International Menstrual Hygiene Day.
Speaking at the event, SEF’s Programme Director, Kiema Ogunlana, emphasised the importance of mental wellness to national development.
“Mental health is a major challenge, even among children. Many young people are going through difficult experiences without any clear support system. If a child does not have emotional and mental stability, they cannot be productive — and that, in turn, affects national development,” she said.
Her remarks come in the wake of rising cases of depression and suicide among school-age children. One of the most recent incidents involved an 18-year-old female student in Kubwa, Abuja, who attempted suicide after receiving a disappointing result in her Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination. Having taken the exam for the second time without meeting the required cut-off mark, she became distraught and ingested 12 tablets of paracetamol. She was later hospitalised and treated.
Ogunlana explained that the outreach was part of SEF’s broader commitment to safeguarding students’ mental health.
“We provided the students with a toll-free line they can call or text for help. Beyond this event, we plan to escalate our support so that any student in distress can access a safe space, free from judgment or stigma,” she said.
She noted that, despite the school’s urban location, many students live with elderly parents or guardians who struggle to meet their basic needs. This, she said, contributes to their emotional struggles and undermines their ability to focus in class.
“We’re considering establishing a mental health club here to ensure sustainability. I noticed many students are silently battling pain behind forced smiles. When you speak to them, you realise the depth of their sadness,” she said. “Through this intervention, we hope to restore hope and bring back their smiles.”
Speaking further, Ogunlana noted that this year’s theme — “Stand Tall, Speak Up: Building a Bully-Free and Period-Positive Generation” — guided the day’s activities. The girls were taught how to care for themselves during menstruation, and boys were included in the session to help foster empathy and understanding.
“We showed them that menstruation is normal. Including the boys helped them realise that girls go through hormonal changes during their period and need support, not ridicule,” she added.
She expressed appreciation to the school management for allowing access to the students and thanked SEF Founder, Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Achimugu, for her unwavering support in making the programme a reality.
SEF’s mental health expert, Chiamaka Nwankwo, also engaged the students in open conversations to encourage them to share their fears, joys, and personal challenges.
Mrs Mudashiru Fatima, Senior Mistress Academics, confirmed the presence of mental health struggles among students.
“We don’t judge them because we don’t always know what they’re going through. We, the teachers, are often their last hope. They open up to us more than they do to their parents. When a child misbehaves, we try to understand the root causes. Many times, it’s due to neglect or absence of parental care,” she said.
She added that some students sponsor themselves through school, even though school fees are as low as ₦6,500. “Many still can’t afford it. Some of us teachers step in to pay—not because we have the money, but because we want these children to at least learn how to read and write.”
Olaniyi Okikiola, the Assistant Head Boy, said the programme helped him better understand the needs of female classmates.
“I learnt that girls deserve attention, especially during their period, because they experience mood swings. These are things we boys often make fun of. Going forward, I’ll make an effort to be more understanding and supportive — as a friend, classmate, and fellow human being,” he said.
Isuwa Gift Tanko, a female student in JSS 3, expressed gratitude to SEF for the training.
“They taught us how to stay clean and care for ourselves during our period. I won’t take that knowledge for granted. I also learnt that it’s important to share our problems with trusted friends and to keep a journal to express how we feel,” she said.
At the end of the programme, SEF distributed Dignity Kits containing sanitary pads, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving sticks, Vaseline, roll-on deodorant, and tissue paper. Food items donated by partners were also shared among the students.
