SchoolMAPS

SchoolMAPS sets out to empower students to manage their emotional and social wellbeing, build teachers' capacity to identify and address distress in young people, establish emotional learning activities and peer support networks, and integrate mental health programmes into the State education system.

Why schools

Globally, half of all people with lifetime mental health problems first experience symptoms by the age of 14. Children in primary and junior secondary schools with mental health problems go unrecognised, and many more struggle with everything from bullying to bereavement. Teachers are not exempt either — staff requiring mental health support have been documented repeatedly.

SchoolMAPS is a pioneering effort by the Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, to integrate mental health into the educational framework. Recognising the role schools play in the development of children and adolescents, the initiative works to foster an environment that supports mental, emotional and social wellbeing.

It is a demanding piece of work, and an unprecedented opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of a great many young people — and to the health of their communities. Sustaining momentum, innovating continuously, and staying adaptable to the changing mental health needs inside our schools will be essential.

Project objectives

To integrate mental health as a key component of the secondary school curriculum, develop the capacity of school counsellors, teachers and student peers to provide support, and establish a clear pathway to mental health services for students and teachers who need them.