ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC RISK FACTORS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG YOUTHS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

Abstract

The study examined socio-economic correlates and mental illness among youths in Kwara State, North Central, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 114 respondents from three council areas in the three senatorial districts of the state using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and cross tabulation. Findings of the study revealed that 79.8% and 81.6% of respondents indicated that financial hardship and unemployment often take the center stage as the most socio-economic risk factors accountable to the increasing rate of mental illness among the youths while 88.6% and 83.3% of respondents respectively reported incessant strikes embarked upon by teachers/lecturers of educational institutions and undue threats by government security personnel. Similarly, 91.2% of respondents revealed poor social relationships maintained by the youths amongst other critical issues. Social workers were identified as playing crucial role in the areas of counseling, advocacy, collaborative services/referrals sequel to which a recommendation was made for inclusion of social work and mental health in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools as well as form part of general study courses in Nigerian higher institutions.