An Exploration of UNILAG Students' Perceptions of Church Fellowships in Mental Health Support

Abstract

This study explores the impact of church fellowships on mental health support for students at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), utilizing a mixed-methods approach combining surveys and interviews. Grounded in Social Support Theory, the research emphasizes the role of social networks in providing emotional, informational, and practical support. The findings reveal that 87% of respondents find religious activities effective in managing stress and anxiety, while 89.5% believe religious support positively influences mental health. Additionally, 96.5% of respondents value the sense of community offered by church fellowships. Interviews with church leaders indicate that while direct suicide cases are rare, depression, academic pressure, and family issues contribute to suicidal thoughts among students. Although churches provide emotional and financial support, the lack of formal mental health training limits their effectiveness. The study confirms the relevance of Social Support Theory by demonstrating how church fellowships reduce mental stress through fostering strong social connections. However, it also highlights the need for structured mental health training for church leaders and recommends partnerships with mental health professionals to improve intervention strategies. Suggestions for enhancing support systems include expanding community-building activities and support groups. A noted limitation of the research is its relatively small sample size focused on UNILAG students, potentially affecting the generalizability of results. Future research should involve larger, more diverse populations to better understand the role of church fellowships in supporting student mental health across various contexts. The church program significantly improves students' mental health, with both church role and program jointly influencing religious support (R² = 0.423, p<0.005).