| Abstract: |
The paper is an empirical investigation into the relationship between mental health and wellbeing outcomes and the delivery of community development initiatives among residents of discrete urban and semi-urban communities in Nigeria. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with over 220 million people is faced with a heavy mental health burden, with estimates ranging from 20–30% of the population experience mental health problems with an embedded treatment gap of over 85%. The role of social determinants of mental health is recognized more today than ever before, yet quantitative evidence on the specific contribution of community development activities (including social capital, participatory planning and governance, livelihood empowerment and community-based psychosocial support programs) to shaping individual and population mental health remains ill-defined on the ground, particularly in the context of Nigeria's recently enacted National Mental Health Act (2021/2023). Methods We analyzed a cross-sectional survey conducted in Lagos, Ibadan and Kano, and a total of 480 respondents across six community cluster sites. Data were collected using a research questionnaire which contains well established scales or items for mental health, social connectedness, community participation, perceived social support and subjective wellbeing. Descriptive and inferential statistics including Pearson correlations, chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression were conducted to assess relationships between community development variables and mental health outcomes. Findings Results showed significantly positive associations of community participation, social support and access to community-based services with DSHS and wellbeing. |
