Lagos School Mental Health Implementation & Access Framework

Lagos State has existing guidance and counselling structures and initiatives aimed at supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students. However, having these structures in place does not automatically guarantee that students can consistently access effective, confidential and appropriate support.

I propose a Lagos School Mental Health Implementation and Access Framework that establishes minimum standards for mental-health and psychosocial support across public schools.

The framework should include clear standards for the availability and deployment of qualified school counsellors, appropriate counsellor-to-student ratios, regular mental-health and emotional wellbeing education, training for relevant school personnel, confidential channels for students to seek help, and clearly defined referral pathways to primary and specialist mental-health services.

It should also introduce regular monitoring to assess whether school counselling services are functional and accessible, with data used to identify schools and communities requiring additional support.

The goal is not simply to create more programmes, but to ensure that existing commitments translate into meaningful access for students; particularly those in underserved communities.

A service cannot be considered truly accessible simply because it exists on paper. Every student should know where to seek help, be able to access it safely, and receive appropriate support when they do.