Social Support Systems as a Correlate of Mental Health Disorders among Young Adults in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

This study investigated Social Support Systems as a Correlate of Mental Health Disorders among Young Adults in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. It emphasized the need to recognize and prioritize social support systems (such as family, friends, mental health services, online communities, and crisis helplines), as a vital tool to address mental health disorders (anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation) among young adults, which has become a global menace. A total of 674,861 young adults of both genders, aged 20-49 years from the 13 Local Governments in Nasarawa State made up the population of the study. A sample size of 400 young adults, consisting of 200 males and 200 females, was selected using the Slovin formula. A self-developed 4-point Likert scale instrument titled Social Support Systems and Mental Health Disorders (SSSMHD) was used for data collection. The study was premised on the Resilience Theory. At 0.05 level of significance and with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.906, the result shows a significant positive linear relationship between social support systems and the willingness of young adults to seek support which could reduce stress and help to prevent or manage mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. Socio-economic factors such as income and employment, cultural beliefs, and stigmatization also contribute to young adults’ decision to seek support. This study recommends that families, community, health practitioners, policymakers and government should work towards achieving mental health wellness and productivity of young adults in Nasarawa state.